BUNER: About 77 suspected persons were arrested and arms and ammunition seized from their possession during a joint search and strike operation conducted by the police and security forces in Totalai and Pir Baba areas of Buner district on Wednesday.

DPO Mohammad Irshad Khan claimed that police rounded up 77 suspected persons, including a proclaimed offender, and recovered two shotguns, 16 pistols and 345 cartridges from their possession.

He said the operation was part of the countrywide crackdown on anti-state elements and their facilitators after a series of terrorist attacks across the country.

The district police chief said security had been tightened throughout the district and search operations had been mounted to arrest militants and their facilitators.

He said all sensitive installations and public places were put under tight security and around the clock patrolling was underway on different roads of the district.

DPO Irshad asked the policemen to provide maximum security to the people. He also urged the residents to extend full cooperation to police in maintaining peace in the district.

He called upon the people to keep vigil on their surroundings and inform police if they observed any suspected activity.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017