ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces on Tuesday captured Umm-e-Hasaan, wife of Lal Masjid's chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz and his daughter Asma during the operation against defiant inmates of the mosque compound, state media reported.

    The two women along with 25 other female students and three children were safely apprehended from the seminary and were kept in custody, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported, quoting unnamed sources.

    Earlier, private DAWN NEWS channel also said wife and daughter of Maulana Abdul Aziz, head of Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, were among the 27 women saved by soldiers.

    Maulana Abdul Aziz was arrested on July 4 evening while attempting to escape from the besieged mosque wearing burqa veil.

    Security forces started a full-fledged operation at around 4 a.m. Tuesday (GMT 2300 Monday) as a talk negotiated through religious scholars failed to convince the defiant armed personnel inside Lal Masjid to surrender.

    The military has confirmed a total of 50 militants were killed while 50 others have surrendered in Tuesday's operation, in which eight security personnel died and 29 others were injured.

    Troops have controlled most parts of the Lal Masjid mosque and seminary compound, which includes some 75 rooms and basements, according to officials.

    Earlier, addressing a news briefing, Pakistani army spokesman Waheed Arshad said Abdul Rashid Ghazi, deputy chief of Lal Masjid, currently might be present in the basement of the mosque or the basement of his residence.

    Some local unconfirmed TV reports said Ghazi has already been arrested in Tuesday's operation.