Behind bars: Suspected militant commander arrested in Buner

Police also confiscated oil drum filled with explosives

BUNER: The police and security forces arrested a suspected militant commander and seized explosives from his possession in Buner on Sunday.

A police official told The Express Tribune Noor Muhammad alias Abbas was arrested during a search operation in Gokand.

He added, “Noor Muhammad was wanted by the police in cases of militancy, extortion, kidnapping and attacks on police and security forces.”

The official said a large cache of arms and explosives were also confiscated from his possession. He added the suspect was a resident of Charbagh tehsil in Swat but fled when the army carried out an operation in the district.

“He was planning to carry out terrorist activity but the security forces and police arrested him,” he said.

On March 15, two key militants affiliated with a banned outfit were arrested during a search operation in Buner.

The accused were apprehended during raid on a hideout and were identified as Bacha Hussain and Farhan.

According to the police, the terrorists were affiliated with a banned outfit and the provincial government had set head money of Rs1 million for providing information about them.

Meanwhile, the police confiscated an oil drum filled with explosives, hand grenades, circuit chargers and suicide jackets from Buner. According to the police, locals informed them about a suspicious oil drum that was found near a river for the last five days. The police reached the site and seized the drum.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2016.