PESHAWAR, June 3: Twenty-five people were arrested when paramilitary troops and police conducted a joint operation against criminals in Regi area on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Saturday, says a handout.

About 2,000 personnel of Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, Anti-terrorism Squad and police backed by armed personnel carriers (APCs) stormed hideouts of wanted criminals.

The security forces used heavy weapons, including light artillery. Three hideouts were destroyed and 25 people were arrested.

The handout said that the operation was suspended on the request of MPAs, MNAs and provincial ministers. It set gangsters a 24-hour deadline to surrender or face action.

Officials said the objective of the operation was to resume work on the multi-billion rupees housing scheme in the area. Work on the project came to a halt about six months ago when the so-called ‘commando group’ expelled the staff of the city development and municipal department (CDMD) and contractors from the site.

The group, officials said, claimed land possession at Regi and demanded payment. The CDMD rejected the claim, saying the government had already paid Rs80 million to real land owners.