ID :
12436
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 11:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12436
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16 security personnel killed by Pak Taliban
Islamabad, July 14 (PTI) Pakistan Taliban killed 16 paramilitary personnel in fresh fighting sparked by the arrest of a militant leader in Hangu area of Pakistan's restive NorthWest Frontier Province.
The Taliban, which had taken anoter 29 officials and security men as hostage, refused to hand over bodies of the Frontier Constabulary personnel killed in Saturday's fiercegun battle.
Army was called in to control the situation after the Taliban ambushed a security convoy that was making its way from Zargari Fort to Doaba town, which has witnessed heightened tensions between militants and security forces following the arrest Rafiuddin, believed to be a deputy ofPakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, on Thursday.
Eight Frontier Constabulary men were killed in the skirmish while eight more were executed by a Taliban "firingsquad", Dawn News channel reported.
The militants told a jirga of tribal elders constituted by the local administration that the bodies would be handed over only after the funeral of Taliban fighterskilled in the fighting.
There was confusion on the number of militants killed.
Some reports said five Taliban fighters were killed whileothers said two militants were killed and one was injured.
One more paramilitary personnel, left for dead by the Taliban firing squad, miraculously survived and made his wayback to Zargari Fort.
Local Taliban commander Mullah Sanaullah has threatened to attack anyone making an attempt to recover the bodies ofthe Frontier Constabulary personnel.
After security forces arrested seven militants, including Rafiuddinm the Taliban besieged the police stationin Doaba and demanded the release of the arrested militants.
They withdrew after the army was deployed in the area butclaimed they had taken 29 security personnel hostage.
There were no reports of fighting in the Hangu area Sunday. However, the administration has recalled all security personnel from check posts in the area to prevent them beingkidnapped by the Taliban.
Curfew also remained in force in Doaba town. The NWFP government has authorised Pir Haider Ali Shah, the MP from Hangu, to negotiate with the Taliban. PTI
The Taliban, which had taken anoter 29 officials and security men as hostage, refused to hand over bodies of the Frontier Constabulary personnel killed in Saturday's fiercegun battle.
Army was called in to control the situation after the Taliban ambushed a security convoy that was making its way from Zargari Fort to Doaba town, which has witnessed heightened tensions between militants and security forces following the arrest Rafiuddin, believed to be a deputy ofPakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, on Thursday.
Eight Frontier Constabulary men were killed in the skirmish while eight more were executed by a Taliban "firingsquad", Dawn News channel reported.
The militants told a jirga of tribal elders constituted by the local administration that the bodies would be handed over only after the funeral of Taliban fighterskilled in the fighting.
There was confusion on the number of militants killed.
Some reports said five Taliban fighters were killed whileothers said two militants were killed and one was injured.
One more paramilitary personnel, left for dead by the Taliban firing squad, miraculously survived and made his wayback to Zargari Fort.
Local Taliban commander Mullah Sanaullah has threatened to attack anyone making an attempt to recover the bodies ofthe Frontier Constabulary personnel.
After security forces arrested seven militants, including Rafiuddinm the Taliban besieged the police stationin Doaba and demanded the release of the arrested militants.
They withdrew after the army was deployed in the area butclaimed they had taken 29 security personnel hostage.
There were no reports of fighting in the Hangu area Sunday. However, the administration has recalled all security personnel from check posts in the area to prevent them beingkidnapped by the Taliban.
Curfew also remained in force in Doaba town. The NWFP government has authorised Pir Haider Ali Shah, the MP from Hangu, to negotiate with the Taliban. PTI
