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14 militants, 3 women killed in Bajaur

* Tribals claim civilian population being killed in ‘artillery fire and helicopter shelling’

KHAR/PESHAWAR: At least 14 militants and three women were killed in bombing by fighter jets in Mamoond tehsil of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday, locals said.

Fighter jets bombed Damadola, Lagharai, Sewai and other areas of Mamoond. Three women were injured in the bombing.

Business centres, schools and shops remained closed in most areas of Bajaur Agency as security forces continued targeting Taliban militants on the 14th day of the military operation. The chief of Bajaur-based Jaish-e-Islami Pakistan Wali Rahman said his organisation welcomed the resignation of Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, but would not negotiate with the government.

Civilians: Residents of the agency alleged on Wednesday that artillery fire and helicopter shelling were only targeting the civilian population. They demanded an end to the military operation in Bajaur.

Civilians had been killed in their houses or migrating to safe locations in trucks or other vehicles, said a delegation representing those affected by the operation.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Aurangzeb Inqilabi, Muhammad Khan, Khan Bahadur and others said the use of fighter jets by the government against citizens was unprecedented.

They said the government did not provide shelter and other necessary facilities to hundreds of thousands of people who had been forced to flee to save their lives.

They said nearly 400,000 people had left the area and the number quoted by the government was not based on facts.

Inqilabi said the government should provide treatment to the injured, and pay compensation to the families of those killed in the operation as well as to those whose houses were damaged or destroyed. staff report

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