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| Bodies found in Pakistan valley | Bodies found in Pakistan valley |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of 22 suspected militants have been found in Pakistan's Swat valley in the past day, officials say. | The bodies of 22 suspected militants have been found in Pakistan's Swat valley in the past day, officials say. |
| Corpses allegedly began appearing several weeks ago. Officials said 18 were found in the region last week. | Corpses allegedly began appearing several weeks ago. Officials said 18 were found in the region last week. |
| Local residents say the Pakistani security forces have been carrying out extra-judicial killings as part of their offensive against the Taliban. | Local residents say the Pakistani security forces have been carrying out extra-judicial killings as part of their offensive against the Taliban. |
| The army and police have denied the accusations, saying locals could be behind the killings for "revenge". | The army and police have denied the accusations, saying locals could be behind the killings for "revenge". |
| A Pakistani human rights watchdog says reports of extra-judicial killings are credible. | A Pakistani human rights watchdog says reports of extra-judicial killings are credible. |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| "We call for a proper investigation to find out who killed them, who were the dead, whether they were militants, innocent people or bystander," said I A Rehman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan told the Reuters news agency. | "We call for a proper investigation to find out who killed them, who were the dead, whether they were militants, innocent people or bystander," said I A Rehman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan told the Reuters news agency. |
| "We've already demanded an investigation but nothing has happened. It's a serious matter and must be looked into," he said. | "We've already demanded an investigation but nothing has happened. It's a serious matter and must be looked into," he said. |
| 'Blindfolded' | 'Blindfolded' |
| Three bodies were found in the Danagram area on the outskirts of Swat's central town of Mingora on Tuesday morning, a security official told the BBC Urdu Service, bringing the total number discovered in the past day to 22. | Three bodies were found in the Danagram area on the outskirts of Swat's central town of Mingora on Tuesday morning, a security official told the BBC Urdu Service, bringing the total number discovered in the past day to 22. |
| Previously we were afraid of the Taliban. Now, we're afraid of the army Mingora resident Swat return: Views of the displaced Return to Pakistan's valley of death The Afghan-Pakistan militant nexus | |
| He said the victims had not yet been identified. | He said the victims had not yet been identified. |
| On Monday, local officials said 19 corpses had been recovered from areas around the Malam Jabba road, north of Mingora. | On Monday, local officials said 19 corpses had been recovered from areas around the Malam Jabba road, north of Mingora. |
| Witnesses said most of the victims had been shot, some several times. They were blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs, and dumped in fields or alleys. | Witnesses said most of the victims had been shot, some several times. They were blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs, and dumped in fields or alleys. |
| "Previously we were afraid of the Taliban. Now, we're afraid of the army," one man told the Associated Press. | "Previously we were afraid of the Taliban. Now, we're afraid of the army," one man told the Associated Press. |
| Military officials have confirmed that the army has been conducting operations in areas where the bodies have been found. | Military officials have confirmed that the army has been conducting operations in areas where the bodies have been found. |
| A top government official in the region, Malakand division commissioner Fazal Karim Khattak, told the BBC that the appearance of the bodies had become a "puzzle". | A top government official in the region, Malakand division commissioner Fazal Karim Khattak, told the BBC that the appearance of the bodies had become a "puzzle". |
| But he rejected the local view that the security forces had been killing suspected Taliban fighters extra-judicially after detaining them. | But he rejected the local view that the security forces had been killing suspected Taliban fighters extra-judicially after detaining them. |
| The army has been operating in areas where the bodies have been found | |
| "I have recommended to the provincial government to hold an inquiry into the circumstances that have led to these deaths," he said. | "I have recommended to the provincial government to hold an inquiry into the circumstances that have led to these deaths," he said. |
| A military spokesman, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, said it believed the killings could have been the "result of revenge by local people". | A military spokesman, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, said it believed the killings could have been the "result of revenge by local people". |
| "It could be a reaction to all that happened to the people in Swat," he said. | "It could be a reaction to all that happened to the people in Swat," he said. |
| While the Taliban controlled the valley, militants dumped bodies of alleged collaborators on the streets to terrify people into submission, correspondents say. | While the Taliban controlled the valley, militants dumped bodies of alleged collaborators on the streets to terrify people into submission, correspondents say. |
| Officials say people have been discovering unidentified bodies dumped in the Swat valley since mid-July, when internal refugees who had fled the area in April in the wake of the army offensive returned. | Officials say people have been discovering unidentified bodies dumped in the Swat valley since mid-July, when internal refugees who had fled the area in April in the wake of the army offensive returned. |
| According to one estimate, more than 120 corpses have been found in total. | According to one estimate, more than 120 corpses have been found in total. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
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