LAKKI MARWAT: Scores of suspected criminals were arrested during search and strike operations in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts on Sunday.

The operations were jointly launched by police and security forces.

Lakki Marwat DPO Muhammad Jawad Ishaq told Dawn that the law enforcers, backed by armoured personnel carriers, raided hideouts of miscreants and captured 14 suspects including proclaimed offenders and drug barons.

“During the operation, the law-enforcement personnel destroyed hideouts of miscreants and anti-social elements in Takhtikhel, Mamakhel, Nar Muhammad Ghaznikhel, Nar Abdu Samand Khisore, Dadiwala and Nizami areas,” he said.

The DPO said that the police also seized arms and ammunition, narcotics and stolen motorcycles from the arrested suspects and registered separate cases against them in the police stations concerned.

“The search and strike operation was aimed to purge the area from outlaws and anti-state elements and improve law and order situation in the district,” he added.

Another official said that the police and security forces, in a joint operation, arrested around 40 suspects in the Bargantu and Kamchashmi areas of Domel town in Bannu district.

He said that commandos of police’s Counter Terrorism Department, Quick Response Force, Bomb Disposal Squad and women police also took part in the operation led by DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi.

“The law enforcers used advanced technology especially drones for surveillance and to locate hideouts of criminals and miscreants in remote areas,” he claimed, adding that around 40 suspects were arrested and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

The official said that the security personnel also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects during the operation.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025