Over 100 killed as troops target Taliban in Bannu

[Naveed Yaseen]

* ISPR says 600-800 Taliban reach Jani Khel, planning to strike parts of NWFP
* One killed, two injured in Taliban rocket attack

LAHORE: Troops killed more than 100 Taliban during two days of operation in Jani Khel and Baka Khel areas of Frontier Region (FR) Bannu, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday.

According to the channel, Taliban commander Sher Alam is among the dead.

Security forces are pounding Taliban positions with gunship helicopters and artillery shells, the channel said.

Taliban: Up to 800 Taliban have reportedly arrived in the semi-tribal area of FR Bannu that borders North Waziristan to fight the army that has started an operation in the area.

“Reportedly 600 to 800 terrorists reached Jani Khel from Miranshah and Razmak. They are planning to strike at various places in the NWFP,” the military said in a press release.

The operation was launched after Jani Khel tribesmen failed to hand over Taliban involved in the abduction of hundreds of students and staff of Razmak Cadet College last week.

Troops moved in on Monday after talks between two tribes thought to be involved in the brazen abduction and political administration broke down.

“Forces pounded the militant hideouts for the whole night and in the morning in Jani Khel tribal area,” local police official Khalil Zaman told AFP. “Authorities have imposed curfew in some areas.”

Rocket attack: Also in Bannu, a man was killed and two others wounded when Taliban fired a rocket at a house, AFP reported. daily times monitor/staff report/afp

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_1