LAHORE: Crime Investigation Agency claimed on Tuesday to have arrested two suspects allegedly linked with banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), involved in kidnap for ransom and recovered illegal weapons, along with Rs3 million in cash, from them.

According to a news release, a CIA team led by SP Umar Virk carried out raids on the information provided by intelligence agencies and nabbed the two suspects -- Mukarram and Moazzim -- of Dera Ismail Khan while they were heading to the tribal area.

The suspects were brothers and had links with the TTP’s Matiur Rehman group based in Miramshah, the CIA police said. The group was allegedly also involved in an attack on Gen Musharraf.

The suspects during interrogation confessed to have committed several kidnappings for ransom. The suspects, after kidnapping their victims from different areas of the country, would shift them to their hideout in Miramshah.

They kidnapped Suhaib of Brandreth Road and Hameed of Liberty Market and took them to Miramshah and released them after receiving Rs110 million ransom.

The suspects also confessed to kidnapping Shahzaib from Rawalpindi, and Muhammad Tahir and Haseeb from Islamabad and later releasing them after receiving Rs450 million collectively. They also kidnapped Muhammad Asif of Dera Ismail Khan and received Rs60 million from him. They had been funding the militant group with the proceeds of crime.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2015

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