UPPER DIR, Dec 5: A large number of policemen have been deployed in Nihag Dara and Karo Dara areas of the district to arrest militants fleeing the restive Swat district.

The Swat district shares a long border with the mountainous Upper Dir district.

There have been fears among elders and the local administration since the start of the operation in Swat that Maulana Fazlullah’s supporters could sneak into the neighbouring district and create disturbance there.

The authorities in Swat believe that Fazlullah and his supporters are hiding in the ‘criminal-infested’ Pewchar area of Matta. Pewchar shares a seven-kilometre border with Karo Dara and 13km border with the Toormang area of Lower Dir.

The district police have been asked to check the movement of the militants towards Upper Dir.

Led by deputy superintendent of police Dawa Khan, over 40 police personnel were sent to Karo Dara and Nihag Dara to keep an eye on the movement of the militants.

It is learnt that Levies personnel have also been deployed in addition to police to ensure the militants do not cross into Karo Dara or other parts of the district.

Police sources have expressed satisfaction over the fact that local people are cooperating with the administration.

About a week ago, local people had got hold of seven suspected supporters of Fazlullah and handed them over to police.