SHANGLA: The Shangla police and the Federal Investigation Agency jointly conducted a raid on a secretly operating digital company in Barkana Shahpur area here, seized the equipment and arrested two persons over involvement in money laundering through the electronic currency bitcoin.

A statement issued by district police officer Malak Ihjaz on Wednesday said the raid was made on a tip-off. He said that after initial interrogation police seized the digital installations and other machines and arrested two suspects.

The statement said that about 84 different types of software were installed in the illegal bitcoin installations, which were supposed to be used for illegal transfer of money to foreign countries.

The DPO said the bitcoin software was a new illegal technique for the illegal money transfers as the government had eliminated all the other unlawful means of money transfer.

According to the statement, the accused were identified as Ghulam Ahmed of Okara and Sajid Sadique Dogar of Lahore, who were handed over to FIA for further interrogation.

DPO Malak Ihjaz, when contacted, told Dawn that on a tip-off he directed sub-divisional police officer, Alpuri, Zahir Khan to conduct a raid, and also informed the FIA officials in this regard.

He said the accused had chosen the remote Shangla area for doing the illegal business to avoid being caught by the law-enforcement officials, but the local police thwarted their bid to carry out unlawful activity.

SHOPS SEALED: Assistant commissioner, Puran, Fazal Wahid, on Wednesday fined several shopkeepers and sealed three outlets for profiteering and hoarding during raids in Nimkaly Bazaar.

He conducted the raids on the directives of deputy commissioner Imran Hussain Ranjha.

He was accompanied by policemen and revenue officials. He warned the shopkeepers and hoteliers against creating artificial price hike. He directed maintaining cleanliness at the restaurants.

ROADS REOPEN TO LIGHT TRAFFIC: The main roads of Shangla were cleared of snow for light traffic on Wednesday.

Bisham-Swat, Karora-Chakesar and Alpuri-Yakhtangay roads were reopened to light traffic. However, link roads in the upper parts remained blocked since the last week’s snowfall.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2020