CHARSADDA: The police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested three terrorists and recovered explosives from their possession in Shabqadar area here on Wednesday.

Officials said Luqman Khan, Bakht Rayan and Mohammad Taj had association with a banned organisation, and were planning attacks during Muharram.

They said the terrorists had been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department for interrogation.

The seizure included three hand grenades and explosives to be used in making of improvised explosive devices.

An official said the terrorists were also involved in extortion and had killed a Sikh community member named Manjeet Singh in 2014 when he refused to pay extortion to them. He said one of the terrorists was facilitator of a notorious commander of a banned outfit. He did not disclose the name of the terrorist outfit.

The official said the operation was conducted in Ghareebabad area of Shabqadar, adding the group was also involved in receiving extortion from people in Peshawar and Charsadda.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2020