GILGIT, Dec 3: The administration of Northern Areas has decided to withdraw police guarding politicians and religious scholars who were provided with guards amidst tension in Gilgit. The police officials have claimed that they had arrested at least 26 proclaimed offenders including two wanted in connection with sectarian motivated violence spanning over 17 months.

The Northern Areas Assistant Inspector General of Police Mohammad Dilpazeer told a news conference on Saturday that these proclaimed offenders were involved in murder, attempt to murder and robbery cases along the Karakoram highway in which half a dozen passengers were targeted under the garb of sectarian violence.

Mr Dilpazeer said these proclaimed offenders offered stiff resistance in Diamer where six more suspects had been detained for interrogations.

The AIG further apprehended that they could not rule out an external hand in the recent violence in Gilgit which claimed over 100 lives but provided no evidence to substantiate his claim.

He said that they would initiate transfers in the department and would not allow policemen to serve in their native districts but would be deployed in other districts to curb the local prejudices in the department.

He said the policemen who had been brought to Gilgit for active duties would be paid their TA/DA.—Correspondent