Appearing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad & Quetta

Monday, October 26, 2009, Zhul-Q'ada 06, 1430

Rah-e-Nijat operation
15 more militants killed

Tariq Saeed

Peshawar—The security forces after taking over the strategic Kotkai, the home town of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud in South Waziristan Agency, on Sunday made substantial advancement and captured all important Tarkano Narai top besides securing areas around Kotkai including Ghorlama as the operation code named Rah-e-Nijat entered eighth day.

The Army said an MI-17 helicopter carrying security personnel, crashed near Nawapass area Bajaur Agency killing at least six security men. The chopper crashed after it developed technical fault. The reports, which could not be authenticated, said the chopper was shot down by the militants.

Reports reaching here said the Tarkano top fell to security forces after intense fighting with militants spanning over 16 hours.

Some 15 more militants are reported to have been gunned down by the forces on Sunday while a soldier also embraced Shahadat and three others wounded. According to rough estimates around 200 militants have been mowed down by the Army led security forces during the operation initiated on October 17. With the fall of Kotkai and the Tarkano Mountain, the reports say, men of TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud were on the run and were fleeing from the area leaving behind important hideouts.

Sources said the insurgents and the security forces were locked in fierce fighting on many fronts on the night between Saturday and Sunday as the forces have consolidated their control over Kotkai.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) updates said after intense engagements security forces secured the significant mountain top of Tarkona Narai after an effort lasting 16 hours.

Troops advanced further on militant positions a day after overrunning Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s home town of Kotkai, securing important ridges, it said.

In the last 24 hours, 15 terrorists have been killed during security forces operation in South Waziristan. Security forces losses are one soldier martyred and three injured,” the updates said adding after securing Kotkai town, security forces advancing further have secured important ridge, point 1125 north of Shishwam and also secured an important feature 1 Km west of Gharlai which is 2 Km north of Kotkai. Terrorists have fled from the area and are firing sporadic rockets at positions of security forces from distant heights.

The security forces secured forward ridges of Kaskai 3 Kms North West of Kotkai. The battle to secure Tarkona Narai the highest feature on important Junction east of Sherwangi commenced Saturday finally achieved success and has been completely secured. The mountain top had 4 strong points and series of bunkers, ISPR said.

Besides killing 4 terrorists on the mountain top itself, a fleeing terrorists vehicle carrying 8 terrorists was engaged and destroyed, killing all miscreants on board. During this operation, a Non-Commissioned Officer embraced Shahadat and 3 soldiers were injured.

During search of a compound in area south-west of Sherwangi 3 terrorists were killed and a gun, 8 rockets, 18 x 60 mm mortar bombs and 8 x 82 mm mortar bombs have been recovered.

The ISPR said at about 1745 hours on 24 October, 1 x MI-17 Helicopter while on dumping mission crash-landed due to technical fault at Nawapass. Resultantly 6 soldiers including three aviation men and three FC jawans embraced Shahadat as the pilots of the helicopter got injured but were safe and out of danger.

Some sources, however, said the copter was shot down by the miscreants operating in the region. These reports could not be confirmed by the reliable sources. The US drones, it may be recalled had appeared on the skies of Bajaur agency the same day and the hell fire missiles fired by the pilotless spying planes have killed up to 25 people.
 

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