KALAYA/GHALANAI/ DIR, Nov 11: Twelve persons, including nine militants and two security men, were killed in exchange of fire in Orakzai and Mohmand tribal regions on Thursday, sources said.

They said that six militants and a soldier were killed in a gunfight in Goak area of Orakzai Agency. According to officials militants attacked a convoy of security forces and killed a soldier.

They added that security forces retaliated and killed six militants. Two militants were also injured in the retaliatory firing by security forces, they said.

Security forces launched search operation in the area and recovered landmines and weapons. Officials said that government writ had been restored in Orakzai Agency and over 100,000 internally displaced persons had returned to their houses during the last one month.An official said that operation against militants was going on in Dabori, Khadizai, Saifel Darra and Nareek areas. The areas would be cleared of militants very soon, he added.

In Mohmand Agency, three militants, a civilian and a khasadar were killed while three soldiers received injuries during a search operation.

Official sources said that security forces launched search operation in Qandharo, Habibzai and Sandokhel localities of tehsil Safi. Security forces also pounded militant hideouts in these areas from headquarters Ghalanai and FC camp Bhaidaq.

During the search operation a group of militants attacked a convoy of Khasadar Force. Naib Subedar Qadar Khan was killed and three personnel were injured in the attack.

The Khasadar personnel killed three militants in retaliatory firing. A civilian identified as Munasab Khan was also killed in crossfire.

The injured soldiers were taken to a hospital in Ghalanai while the deceased khasadar was laid to rest in his hometown Amrao Kor in Qandharo.

Security forces also arrested six suspected persons during checking at various points. The fleeing militants took away a pick-up vehicle carrying salary of Khasaddar force.

In Upper Dir, security forces arrested nine suspected militants and seized weapons during raids in Wari and Sundrawal areas, official sources said.

A local jirga also handed over Maulvi Sher Zaman, wanted by local administration and security forces in various cases of violence, to Brawal police.

Later, police gave him in the custody of security forces for interrogation.

The other eight suspected persons were shifted to unidentified place for interrogation.

Security forces raided a house in Wari Payeen and seized huge cache of weapons including two small machineguns and 50 kilograms explosives. Security forces also set on fire the house of Yarmula in Galkor Usharai for his involvement in attack on Gandigar police.