Pakistani jets kill 11 militants, bomb seminary
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 26, IRNA -- Pakistani fighter planes Thursday rained bombs on a militants-linked religious seminary and a school in a tribal region and killed at least 11 militants, locals said.
Officials put the death toll at around 60 who claimed that the militants were holding meeting at a compound when the fight planes bombed the area in Orakzai tribal region.
There had been no independent confirmation of the casualties.
An official said the planes also hit a vehicle at Machini village in Orakzai agency, killing three militants.
The security forces have started limited air strikes in Orakzai, the stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban. Officials say that militants fled from South Waziristan have arrived in Orakzai agency.
Thousands of people have shifted to safe places as the security forces stepped up operations in the area. Locals said that some 80 per cent people have left the area and moved to safe places.
An official said in the northwestern city of Peshawar that fighter planes bombed Mamuzai area, the stronghold of Taliban militants.
A ‘madrassa’ and a nearby private school came under the attack, locals said.
They said both buildings were completely destroyed.
Locals said that eight militants were killed in the strike.
Several locals said that the fighter planes also bombed a center of non-political ‘Tablighi Jmaat’, where people gather on Thursday night for Islamic lectures.
Meanwhile, militants fired rockets at headquarters of security forces at Kalaya area in Orakzai agency, injuring a soldier.
**1420
End News / IRNA / News Code 1024377
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