SWABI: The police and its Counter-Terrorism Department during a search and strike operation in the mountainous regions of Razaar tehsil here on Friday arrested 24 outlaws, including proclaimed offenders, drug smugglers and peddlers.

District police officer Haroon Rasheed Khan said raids were conducted on the suspected hideouts of militants, while surveillance of mountainous regions was carried out through drones for the first time, which proved very productive and result-oriented, according to a press release issued here.

The search operation was conducted under the supervision of DSP Razaar Shakeel Khan and DSP CTD Khalid Iqbal Khan, SHO Parmuli police station Gohar Khan and SHO Kalu Khan Abdul Wali Khan.

A heavy police contingent, Elite Force personnel, Rapid Response Force’s commandos, district security branch squad and policewomen took part in the operation.

Over three kilogrammes of hashish, ice drug and arms were recovered from them. Cases were registered against them in different police stations.

DPO Rasheed said the search and strike operation was conducted on the directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Akhtar Hayat Khan and Mardan region police officer Najibur Rahman.

The operation was carried out in hilly areas of Khanpur, Naranji, Sher Dara, Janay and the villages bordering the Buner district.

In the past suspected militants have sneaked into Swabi from Buner to hide in its mountainous regions.

When contacted, DSP Razaar Shakeel told Dawn that graffiti with reference to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan on a rock in Khanpur hills adjacent to Buner road was removed during the operation.

Besides, he said snap checking was conducted in various areas, and 20 motorcycles without number plates were impounded.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2024