By our correspondent
DAGGAR: Four persons, including two militants, were killed and six others arrested in the continuing search and clearance operation in the mountains of Elum in Buner district on Thursday. The sources said security forces continued their advance in Elum area from four directions. Security forces killed two militants, identified as Habibur Rahman and Bacha, brothers of an important militant commander Naseeb, in a gunbattle. A minor and a woman were also killed in firing, the sources added. Five militants were arrested from the area. Residents of the area said the militants, along with their families, had shifted to the centuries-old caves in Elum mountains after the forces launched the military operation in Buner.

BUNER: The district polio eradication committee meets here in chair of DCO-Syed Mujeebur Rehman in his office at Daggar on Thursday. The EDO health Dr.Maqsood Ahmed Khan briefed him about the arrangements for upcoming polio campaign scheduled from 16th to `18th of this month. The EDO health informed him of the requirements including logistics and ice besides support and security. The meeting attended by heads of line departments, TMOs, public representatives, social and religious figures and media men. The meeting appreciated the cooperation of local media men while the chair directed the education department for making sure awareness drive in morning ceremony. Soon after the meeting the communication wing of the health department was arranged detail briefing to inform media men of the steps taken in this connection so far. The DHCSO informed them that inauguration in ten high-risk union council had already been completed besides convening two major Jirgas in far remote hilly union councils of Amazai and Gokand while polio tournament at the militancy hit union council Gadezai also concluded. The DHCSO hoped that awareness level would further improved with the support of local media men, social, political figures and religious personalities in good contact as well.

BUNER: The tehsil council Daggar in its monthly session here on Thursday raised objections in the activities of NGOs in the district and accused of distributing donations at the hands of political leaders while ignoring elected public representatives. The session held its session in chair of convener-Habibullah Khan where in the nazim Sher Zaman Khan Chaghorzaiwal and head of line departments participated. Those addressed including Zahir Zada Khattak, Shah Wazir Khan, Umer Sher, Soran Singh, Mohammad Ayoub, Abdul Latief and Mohammad Rishad. The speakers bitterly criticized the working NGOs for hands in glove with political parties and distribution of food and non-food items on their recommendations. They reacted hard over the negative attitude of the organizations and demanded handing over all of the matters to the Brigade major of army cell in the district. Shah Wazir Khan demanded early repair of the out of work tube of pacha kalay and righting up six months long water bill when the facility was not utilized. Dr.Soran Singh expressed concern over ignoring minority in the food, on food and cash packages and demanded equal share. The council rejected the K.L.B and termed it against the interest of states. Nazim Sher Zaman Khan Chaghrziwal in his concluding address assured the council that he would best utilize his energies and office to protect their rights.

BUNER: The inhabitants of far remote-mountainous union council Amazai have demanded village level vaccination to immunize their children and womenfolk on time. These views came to light during Qaumi Jirga in the said union council Amazai on Tuesday.The Jirga was convened by the communication wing of district health department in collaboration with Amazi Social Welfare Association. The said union council has borders with Haripur, Mansehra and rule free Kaladhaka where routine vaccination was low- ie 54% and trend of reporting AFP cases was not introduced. The Jirga chaired by union nazim-Jamil Khan and participated by naib nazim, councilors, elite, social, political, religious figures, teachers, students and large number of parents, representing different villages and health staffers. Misbahullah got the honour of recitation verses from holy Quran to formally start the day Jirga. It was a huge gathering of its nature in the union council, commented a vocal local Siraj Wali who complained of least interest by health/ vaccination staffers and requested of sending vaccinators once a month to villages-situated far remote in mountainous region for vaccinating their children and womenfolk. The Jirga proved successful when some other locals including-Abdur Rahman of Charorai, A school teacher Bakht Sher Ali of Amazi and Said Hakim Shah of Khanpur raised various issues like unnecessary delay at center, no out reach since long. They were even unaware of the importance of vaccination to their children and womenfolk and for the first time came to know how their children were facing worst due to no vaccination in early age and women folk during puberty. They after getting sufficient information about importance of vaccination requested for further strengthening the supervision and monitoring to make sure presence of the vaccinators at center and out reach as well. The elected public representatives-both nazim and naib nazim in their speeches appreciated health department for convening Jirgas in the union council for the first time adding they were in dark all about vaccination especially the danger aspect of for ever disability caused by polio virus. They assured full support to the visiting teams for routine vaccination and polio campaign as joint responsibility to protect new generation against fatal diseases. On the occasion DHCSO Abid, ADSO-Javid Bacha and MO-Dr.Abdul Aziz briefed the participants about vaccination programme. They informed that Amazi is situated in key locality when people from two districts and an agency travel through the area and there are more chances of poliovirus spread. They urged upon them to make sure administration routine vaccination to there near and dears from the very first day to complete it till celebration first birthday.

BUNER: The security forces have launched final battle against militants in Elum Ghar, killing five wanted militants while two, including a commander, from outside the district were arrested. The forces had already completed preparation for hitting the hard target in the Elum Ghar that was a safe haven for the militants mostly outsiders, an informed source confided. The source confirmed that offensive was launched early morning on Wednesday when the forces arrested an outside commander from the locality along with a colleague on Tuesday. The operation was well planned like war footing and the militants were not expecting such like commando operation as a result five wanted militants were killed in the first assault. However, their identity was not disclosed and only arrest of the two a day ahead of the operation was disclosed. The source confirmed continuation of the operation with silence till finishing the militants' hiding in the mountainous region of Elum Ghar. The source claimed Elum Ghar was the last ditch of militants, mostly outsiders. The source added the Gadezai playground has already been vacated and the forces deployed there for months have left because of clearing the area out of militants. The forces as per the source had already completed ground and Aerial survey of the mountainous region adding it has many caves, thick forests and sufficient water and wild fruit to provide conducive environment to militants for long time. The source noted that supply routes had already been cut off when the forces arrested locals supporters and main supply lines were dismantled from two districts of Buner and Swat. The forces had cordoned off the popular Elum Ghar two days ago and five check points set up at exit points-Mullah Banda, Poland, Jawarai, Sharatraf, Kwar Sar and Elum. Security was further beefed up on main roads from Daggar to Pir Baba, Pir Baba to Dokada, Jowkhela to Jure and Jure to Karakar pass. An informed source confirmed similar security measures were also taken on the other side-Marghuzar and Amlook Dara of Swat district to block all of the exit routes. A high ranking officer in the district administration have confirmed army offensive in the Elum Ghar and hoped it would be completed without any harm to common people of the area. In Swat-Malakand Operation Rah-e-Rast, three terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Chuprial, Dagai and Kabbal. Security forces conducted search operation at Manglour, Mingora and apprehended three suspects. Moreover, around 10,621 cash cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.