Search operation: Four militants arrested in Upper Dir

Were involved in 2009 blast that left 40 dead, more than 100 injured

UPPER DIR: At least four wanted militants and 107 proclaimed offenders have been arrested over the last two months from various parts of Upper Dir.

This was said by Upper Dir DPO Syed Israruddin Bacha while speaking to the media at his office on Friday.

“During the last two and half months, the district police carried out raids in various areas of the district,” he said. “Four wanted militants, who were involved in an attack on a mosque in 2009, were taken into custody.”

Over 40 people had lost their lives while more than a hundred were injured in the mosque attack.



According to the DPO, the police also arrested 107 proclaimed offenders who were wanted by the police for various crimes. At least 515 suspects were also put behind bars.

The DPO said the district police seized 10 Kalashnikovs, 11 rifles, 25 guns, 36 pistols, 1,145 cartridges as well as 10 kilogrammes of explosives.

He added the district police also seized 25kg of hashish from the smugglers.

“The police also conducted operations against timber smugglers and confiscated 230 timber logs from their possession,” he said.

Crackdown

Separately, Gandigar police said they raided a house of an arrested militant at Jabbar in Usheri Dara area of Upper Dir on Friday. Arms and explosives were seized.

The police acted on the information provided by Bacha Hussain, a detained militant. They raided his house and seized four bags of explosives, four bombs and other arms and ammunition. The police also arrested Hussain’s father and brother.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2016.