Islamabad: At least 12 militants were arrested today in northwest Pakistan's troubled Swat valley by security forces, which also shut down three illegal FM radio stations as radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah resumed broadcast after remaining off air for three months.

Equipment for running three illegal radio stations were seized from seven militants arrested during an operation at Bara Bandai in Kabal sub-district, officials said.

The security forces nabbed five more militants during a search in other parts of Swat. Among the arrested men was a top commander named Chamnay Khan, who was wanted by police in several cases.

The security forces conducted the search operation in the wake of Fazlullah resuming his fiery broadcasts after remaining off the air for nearly three months. Officials said the three illegal FM stations being used by militants to broadcast "provocative messages".

The troops also seized arms, ammunitions, audio cassettes containing provocative speeches and several fake passports from the arrested men.

Fazlullah, who is also known as "FM Maulana", resumed his broadcasts past three days ago.

The government had improved the signal strength of state-run Swat Radio to disrupt and jam the frequency of Fazlullah's broadcasts. Locals said Fazlullah's speeches were not audible because of the disruption by the state-run radio station.

"An unknown person starts to make a speech loudly at exactly the same moment when Fazlullah delivers his speech, thus making Fazlullah's words inaudible," a local said.

Security forces are conducting a major operation in the Swat area against the militant followers of Fazlullah. Over 300 militants have been killed by troops in the region since November last year.

Source : PTI