The security forces continued the bombardment on the hideouts of Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in South Waziristan Agency, while the US surveillance planes (drones) also continued flights over Makeen, Ladha and adjacent areas of the agency.
The security forces continued aerial and ground assault on the hideouts of TTP in Waziristan areas including Kotkai, Spainkai, Raghzai and Srarogha, Defence sources said. They said that after the announcement of Operation Rahi-e-Nijat, the people are leaving the area in great number.
In 'operation Rah-e-Raast' hideouts of terrorists in Swat's tehsil Kabal areas of Zora, Dagai and Dadhrah of Malakand division were also bombarded during the ongoing operation in Malakand Division, sources said, adding that the curfew has been relaxed in various areas of Swat and Lower Dir.
The spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that twenty two militants were killed and 17 were arrested during the military operation in Malakand, while one soldier was injured.
He said that the security forces have cleared Shamozai and Akhun Kale from terrorists. He said that on a tip off by locals an important commander of Madiyan Qari Junaid and his accomplice Naeem hiding in a house have been killed.
He said that the terrorists attacked a communication maintenance party of the security forces near Doshagram (Fatehpur), resultantly one soldier was injured.
On the other side elders of the area have decided and volunteered to organise defence committees for guarding against resurgence of terrorists in a meeting with the local army officials at Kalam and Bahrain, the ISPR spokesman said.
During search operation, Security forces destroyed 2 hide outs in village Kasuna and apprehended 1 terrorist from Baidarra and also secured village Doghlar and cleared number of houses, he added.
Security forces during a search operation in Matta and Nazarabad have recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, explosive and other equipment, while seven remote control bombs planted by terrorists.
During a search operation carried out in Galgut areas, security forces killed 20 terrorists and 15 were apprehended. The spokesman said that the IDPs have started returning back to their homes in the areas cleared from terrorists. 12 IDP families comprising 69 members reached Besham Camp for further move to Kalam. Earlier, 300 families were transported back from Besham to Kalam in last two days.
So far 1,325 tons rations out of Army Ration and 975 tons relief goods have been distributed amongst the scattered IDPs of Malakand, District Shangla, Mingora and Charbagh.