BUNER, Sept 6: District Police Officer Danishwar Khan on Tuesday claimed that the police had arrested the mastermind of the plot to kill Provincial Minister for Education Sardar Hussain Babak.

Speaking at a press conference here, the DPO said that the accused, Behramzai, son of Dollazai of Chingalai, was the mastermind of the plot to attack the provincial minister. The DPO was flanked by DCO Syed Mujeebur Rehman and SP investigation Ihsanuddin Khan.

He said that the accused was traced with the help of the cell phone which was recovered from the spot.

He said that during interrogation Behramzai revealed names of six other accomplices, including Yousaf Shah, Umer Hayat, Zarwali, Said Zaman Shah, Mohammad Saeed and Abdul Ahad. The other accused would be arrested in a week, he added.

Mr Danishwar said that the main accused was a close relative of absconding militant Islam Shah of village Chingalai whose residence had been demolished by the security forces during an operation. He said that the mastermind was produced in the court on Tuesday to obtain his physical remand.

The DPO said the group had made the plot to kill the minister to take revenge of the army operation against militants.

The district coordination officer, in his brief remarks, expressed satisfaction over the investigation and said that the investigation team had traced the culprits.

The DCO and DPO announced commendation certificates and awards for the police officials of Totalai and Chingalai police stations for professional investigation of the case.