Forces take control of Ladha after fierce battle: 30 terrorists killed, Fazlullah's top aide held

After a fierce battle for Ladha, strategically important area of South Waziristan Agency and stronghold of terrorists, security forces have entered the area, which would help in crushing the terrorists' resistance to a great extent. During the ongoing "Operation Rah-e-Nijat," the security forces have killed 30 terrorists in South Waziristan Agency after taking control of Ladha and captured some important ridges in the area.
Beside, a top aide of Maulvi Fazlullah and 23 other terrorists in Malakand had been arrested during the last 24 hours, said a spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. He said that the forces had also recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosive and some other equipment from both South Waziristan Agency and Malakand division during the operation. Eight soldiers, including two officers, and a JCO were injured in the fighting, he added.
He said that the forces had also taken control of major portion of Saragoha, another stronghold of terrorists, and were now fighting for the key mountains of the region. Giving details of the ongoing military assault against terrorists, the spokesman said that the forces had cleared major part of Sarargha on Jandola-Sararogha axis.
During the battle for Saragoha, the security forces had killed 16 terrorists, he added. He said that the security forces also secured Prato Narai and Point 16242 west of Saragoha, which is also an important ridge in the area. He said that on Shakai-Kaniguram axis security forces killed 10 terrorists during the fierce battle to take control of the important stronghold of terrorists, the town of Ladha, and the forces were also securing surrounding ridges and heights in the area.
He said that during the search operation in Mingora Sar, the security forces recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, including six drums magazines filled, 16 magazines of all types, three grenades, six improvised explosive devices (IEDs), one blasting machine, one pistol with ammunition, swords and knives.
The security forces, he said, had killed four terrorists and secured the village of China and were now consolidating their positions in Razmak-Makeen axis, and added that huge cache of arms and ammunition discovered from different compounds and a large number of IEDs had been neutralised.
The ISPR spokesman said that in Swat and other parts of Malakand division, the security forces continued search operations, and arrested a top aide of Maulvi Fazlullah, believed to be the finance manager of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Swat, from village Jabrai. The forces also recovered Rs 815,500 from his possession. He said that two terrorists had voluntarily surrendered to security forces, which during the search operation at Miandam discovered two tunnels.