Swat Civilian Killed, Police Officer Injured in Shootout

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A civilian was killed and a police constable critically injured on Wednesday in an exchange of fire between police and suspected militants in the Dop Sar area of Gwalerai, Matta tehsil, in Swat district.

According to police, the incident occurred during a targeted operation in a remote mountainous region following reports of armed individuals in the area. The deceased was identified as Jahan Baha, a resident of Upper Dir district. Constable Sahibzada was seriously injured and was shifted to a nearby medical facility.

In the days leading up to the clash, residents of Gwalerai and nearby villages had shared concerns online about the movement of unidentified armed men in the surrounding hills and, in some cases, near populated areas. These reports prompted law enforcement to initiate an operation to investigate the situation.

Swat police spokesperson Moin Fayaz confirmed that a police contingent had been sent to the area. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Malakand, Sher Akbar, later visited the site to assess the situation and gave instructions to the officers involved in the operation. He was accompanied by Swat District Police Officer Mohammad Umar Khan.

RPO Sher Akbar told media that around 25 suspected militants had entered the Dop Sar region from the nearby Dir border and were believed to be hiding in the forested terrain. He stated that police were actively engaged in locating and neutralising the threat. No official statement was made regarding the involvement of the military or the exact size of the police force deployed.

Swat, which faced a prolonged militant insurgency from 2007 to 2009, has seen renewed concern over potential militant activity in recent years. While the region had stabilised after major security operations, incidents like this have raised fresh concerns about law and order among residents.

Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and to report any suspicious activity to the police. Operations in the area were ongoing at the time of this report, and officials confirmed that the situation remains under close observation.

No additional injuries or arrests had been reported by the time of publication.