MARDAN: The security forces arrested over 300 suspected persons, including 16 Afghan nationals, during a joint search and strike operation in rural areas of Mardan, officials said on Tuesday.

They said that the search and strike operation which was launched on Monday and continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, was led by General Officer Commanding, Malakand, Maj-Gen Nadir Khan and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mardan division, Saeed Khan Wazir.

Later, Mardan District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad, talking to media persons, said that they had arrested about 327 suspected persons, including 16 illegally staying Afghan nationals, and persons involved in various crimes.

He disclosed that the areas where the search and strike operation was carried out included Par Hoti, Bashkhali, Gujraat, Iranabad, Chora, Bhaijan, Surakh Dheray, Katakhet, Barikab, Galyara and localities adjoining the city.

He said they had also established checkposts jointly manned by police and army personnel at different points of the district and around 500 vehicles were searched with the purpose to take suspected passengers into custody if there were any inside those vehicles.

Mr Shehzad said that the arrested persons were being interrogated and after a through scrutiny those would be set free who were not found guilty of any offence. He said the ongoing search and strike operation would continue for a week to purge the district of criminals and their facilitators.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2015