Crackdown in Hangu: Suspected militants arrested, hideouts destroyed

Operations against proclaimed offenders and suspected militants have been ongoing following the killing of PTI MPA.

HANGU:

Police and security forces arrested three suspected militants and destroyed 10 militant hideouts on the outskirts of Hangu on Sunday.

Hangu DPO Sajjad Khan told media personnel, police and security forces made the arrests during a joint operation which was launched in the district’s outskirts after receiving intelligence reports.

Sajjad further said the crackdown was conducted in Bagathu, Sarakdana, Lakhtai Bhanda, Speen Khawri, Kandhu Kallay and Bypass areas. Multiple houses were raided and a cache of arms which included rocket launchers, AK-47s and hundreds of rounds of bullets was also seized.

“The hideouts were destroyed on Bypass Road,” Sajjad added.

Operations against proclaimed offenders and suspected militants have been ongoing in the district following the killing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA, Farid Khan, on June 3.

Farid, along with his driver Ayaz and brother Shah Nawaz, was travelling to Hangu city from Speen Khawra when gunmen opened fire on his car, killing the MPA on the spot and injuring his driver and brother. The driver, Ayaz later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2013.