KOHAT: The police arrested five robbers, including a terrorist who had escaped from Bannu jail in a militant attack in 2012, during an armed robbery here on Monday.

On a tip-off that a robbery was underway in Dhall Behzadi area, the in-charge of Mills police chowki formed a police party which encircled the robbers. The policemen after a brief exchange of fire overpowered the robbers and arrested five of them.

The arrested robbers were identified as Mohammad Daud Khan who had fled the Bannu jail, Attaullah, Abdullah, Rehmatullah and Mohammad Younis. Two pistols with cartridges were also recovered from them. The police also impounded a car which was being used in the robbery. Daud is wanted by the Bannu police.

They were shifted to the Riaz Mohammad Shaheed police station.

In another action, police arrested three alleged robbers who were sitting in an ambush in Jangle Khel area for committing the crime. The police seized a repeater and a pistol from them.

The militant had escaped Bannu jail during the 2012 militant attack

Also in the day, police foiled attempts of smuggling arms and drugs to Mianwali district of Punjab from Darra Adamkhel on the Indus highway and arrested three accused.

Jarma police, during a search of two cars bound for Mianwali at Muslimabad checkpost seized 11,644 cartridges of different bores, nine chargers, five butts of Kalashnikovs and three kilogramme of hashish.

The alleged smugglers, Amanullah of Darra Adamkhel, Majid Ali of Rawalpindi and Kashif of Lachi tehsil were arrested.

OUTLAWS ARRESTED: The Lachi police have arrested 50 proclaimed offenders and 974 suspects in more than 100 search and strike operations conducted at the dens of criminals under the National Action Plan.

Lachi DSP Zahir Shah told reporters that during the operations they also seized 52,000 litres of crude oil being smuggled from local oil fields and huge cache of weapons and drugs.

He said in the raids conducted in coordination with local elders 13 money lenders involved in interest-based transactions were also held.

The seizure included 15 small machine guns, two hand grenades, 17 rifles, 20 shotguns, 25 pistols, 70 chargers, 32 kilogrammes of hashish, one kilogram heroin, liquor and stake money recovered from gamblers.

HOSPITAL UPGRADED: The civil hospital Shakardarra has been upgraded where initially nine male and one lady doctor will start working immediately.

The upgradation of the only health facility in the remote area of Kohat had been the longstanding demand of people.

Provincial law minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi while making announcement on Monday at his hujra said gradually the number of doctors in the hospital would be increased to 20.

He stated that the chief minister had approved Rs200 million for expansion of the existing building which would have more wards, blocks and a residential colony for paramedics and doctors.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2017