Crackdown: 70 suspects arrested across province for various crimes

Afghan nationals taken into custody for failing to provide valid identity documents

HARIPUR/ KOHAT/ BANNU: At least 66 suspects were arrested in separate crackdowns in various parts of the province on Tuesday.

An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune 12 suspects were taken into custody during a search operation conducted by Bannu police and security forces in Narmikhel, Bannu. Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani’s convoy was attacked in the region last week but he managed to escape the bid on his life.



“Police received information that militants had established hideouts in Narmikhel,” the official said. “As a result, police and security forces conducted a search operation there at 5am.”

According to the officials, the suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.

“Officers seized a bomb weighing 14 kilogrammes, which had been planted in a cylinder,” he said. “Weapons were recovered from their possession.

Kohat

At least 44 suspects were arrested during a search operation conducted by the police and security forces in Kohat. A crackdown was conducted in various parts of the city after the interior ministry declared the district sensitive. The ministry has recommended security measures should be put in place before the chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

“Three Afghan nationals were among the suspects who were taken into custody,” a police official told The Express Tribune.

According to the official, raids were conducted in Garhi Rauf Khan, Kharha Garhai, Qureishabad and Sabzi Mandi.

“A Kalashnikov, two guns, one repeater, two pistols, cartridges and 1,900 grammes of cannabis were confiscated from the suspects,” he added. The suspects have been shifted to City police station for further interrogation.

In a separate incident, four suspects were booked on charges of aerial firing. “They have been identified as Kashif Khan, Aziz Khan, Umer Khan and Shoaib Khan,” a police official told The Express Tribune.

Haripur

In a separate incident, 14 suspects were arrested during a search operation within the jurisdiction of Saddar police station in Haripur.

According to a police official, the arrests were made as per the requirements of the National Action Plan. “Four Afghan nationals were among those who were arrested for failing to provide valid identity documents,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2015.