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Taliban take over Shangla town

* Govt imposes curfew in Swat
* Army says four militants killed in airstrikes
* 5 suspects detained by paramilitary personnel
* Locals claim one civilian killed, 7 injured, army unaware

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Around 500 local Taliban took over control of Shangla district headquarter Alpuri moments after sunset on Tuesday, occupying the DPO, DCO and police lines offices without facing any resistance from the government, eyewitness and a local nazim told Daily Times.

The eyewitnesses said the armed militants urged locals to stay calm and extend all possible support to them. Alpuri union council Nazim Sabir told Daily Times that the armed militants, led by Maulana Muhammad Alam, a close associate of rebel Swat cleric Maulana Fazlullah, captured the district.

“All government functionaries, including the DPO and DCO, left the area the moment they heard of the fall of Shangla Top police station, located at the border between Swat and Shangla,” Sabir said.

Taliban commander Maulana Muhammad Alam was quoted as saying that no one would be harmed nor would any private or state property be damaged. “We only struggle for the enforcement of Shariah,” he told Alpuri residents.

Curfew imposed: Meanwhile, the government imposed a curfew in Swat, the army said. “The curfew has been imposed to check the movement of the militants,” chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP, adding that it would be in force from midnight Tuesday to 5am on Wednesday. Witnesses said the curfew announcement was made over mosque loudspeakers.

Four militants killed: Separately, four militants were killed and over 50 wounded as army helicopters continued pounding their positions in various areas of Swat late on Monday night and early on Tuesday, the military said on Tuesday.

Military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad confirmed that four militants were killed and four or five of their bunkers and an ammunition dump were destroyed as gunship helicopters targeted their hideouts in the Sambat area.

Another militant checkpost in Kabal tehsil was also destroyed, the army spokesman added. An estimated 35 militants were injured in the airstrike, he said.

Five suspects detained: Another 15 to 20 rebels were injured when they tried to attack and capture the Saidu Sharif airport late on Monday night, said Gen Waheed, adding that five suspects, including four locals and one Afghan, were detained by paramilitary personnel in Chakdara on Tuesday. He said telephone directories had been confiscated from the suspects. “Some weapons were also recovered from their possession,” he said. He said ground troops would be used against the militants when required. Answering a question on when the military operation would end, Gen Waheed said, “It will take time to eliminate the militants.”

One civilian killed: The spokesman said the government was not aware of any civilian deaths during the operation, however locals said one civilian was killed and seven were injured in the airstrikes on Monday night and Tuesday. There were no reports of any retaliatory fire by the rebels.

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