MANSEHRA: The police and Elite Force on Wednesday launched a crackdown on outlaws in the mountains of Lower Kohistan district.

“Our search and strike operation is meant to arrest those wanted for heinous crimes and ensure peace,” district police officer Muzammil Shah told reporters in Pattan area.

The DPO said he and and deputy superintendent of police, Pattan Circle, Sajjad Khan were leading the personnel of almost all police stations and Elite Force from across the district into the crackdown in Pattan Kala mountains and adjoining areas.

He said the police had the intelligence that many criminals wanted by the police of our as well as neighbouring districts had sneaked into Pattan Kala.

Mr Shah said the operation would continue until the arrest of all those wanted men. He said the residents harbouring outlaws would be also dealt with strictly.

“We [police] are ready to respond to any hostile response from outlaws,” he said.

The DPO said the police had been deployed on the Karakoram Highway for the safety of the people travelling in and through the district.

He said the district’s all entry and exit points had been sealed and nobody was allowed to enter or leave the area without search and identification.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2022