By Shaheen Buneri
MINGORA: Thousands of people have shifted to other safer areas from Matta, Manglawar and Khwazakhela villages of district swat after intensified shelling and exchange of fire between the armed supporters of Maulana Fazlullah and Pakistan security forces here on Sunday.
Sirajuddin, spokesman of Maulana Fazlullah has said that DG ISPR claim of killing ten Taliban is totally baseless, adding that his militia has caused huge human loss to the security forces.
Sirajuddin further said that the security forces have also attacked Imam Dheri religious seminary and home town of the firebrand religious cleric Maulana Fazlullah.
In the exchange of fire between security forces and militants two journalists and three civilians also sustained serious injuries, while two other civilians were killed.
In the afternoon gunship helicopters started shelling Manglawar and Imam Dheri, the home town of Maulana Fazlullah, the hardliner religious cleric. Reportedly 10 supporters of Maulana Fazlullah have been killed in the fresh offensive.
Shamshir, a resident of Manglawar told daily times on phone that security forces were shelling the village from helicopters and Kanju FC camp. "Dust and smoke has engulfed the whole area and the people have shifted on top of the surrounding mountains. I fear that a number of local Taliban have been killed or wounded in the shelling", he said from Manglawar mountains where he took refuge along with his family.
In midst of the firing between the two groups Siraj-ud-Din the official spokesman of Maulana Fazlullah called journalists on his phone; he was crying and informing the media men that the security forces had just firing on imam dherai and koza Bandai. Both of these villages are the stronghold of Maulana Fazlullah supporters.
Thousands of people in Matta, Khwazakhela, and Manglawar areas of Swat are trying to migrate to other safer places of the area but due to Taliban control on roads in upper part of the valley they fear to move.
"We are confronted with a critical situation. From Matta to Kanju on the roads Taliban are checking vehicles and search for opponents of Maulana Fazlullah, we fear lest they cause harm to us", Rahmat Khan, a resident of Matta said.
In Khwazakhela area the local Taliban broke down the doors of private Motor bargains and took with them a number of cars and other vehicles. Locals say that Taliban told them that they need them in their defense against security forces.
Local say that Taliban have captured surrounding mountains of Matta Tehsil and from there they are firing on the security forces. In some areas the local people are also supporting the militants.
Due to the deteriorating law and order situation security forces blocked Mingora-Kalam road for all types of traffic. Hospitals were kept on high alert and a number of ambulances rushed toward Khwazakhela.
Locals have demanded of both the government and Maulana Fazlullah to stop the battle and resolve all issues through talks and negotiations.
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