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Pak Taliban's top spokesman Maulvi Omar arrested: Reports

August 18, 2009 12:24 IST
In a major catch, Pakistani Taliban's top spokesman Maulvi Omar has been arrested along with his two associates in the lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan, reports said on Tuesday.

Omar and his aides Wahid Gul and Hameedullah were apprehended in Khwazeo village in restive Mohmand Agency on Monday night by security forces with the help of a local 'lashkar' or tribal militia when he was traveling in a car to Taliban stronghold South Waziristan, TV news channels reported.

He was later handed over to the Frontier Corps and it was expected that he would be produced before the media later on Tuesday.

As the official spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Omar has claimed responsibility on behalf of the Taliban for dozens of suicide attacks and bombings.

The local lashkar and tribal elders played a key role in Omar's capture.

The militia, which is backed by the government, has been fighting the Taliban for the past few months. The Taliban on Monday targeted people from Mohmand Agency in a bomb attack to take revenge for the activities of the lashkar.

The arrest of high-profile Omar was the latest blow to the militants after the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was reportedly killed in a US drone attack in South Waziristan on August 5.

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