MANSEHRA: The police claimed to have arrested four alleged treasure hunters, who were caught digging graves at an ancient graveyard in the Garhi Habibullah area here on Sunday.

“They were equipped with gold and other metal detection gadgets and were active in our district, digging ancient ruins and graveyards.

“We arrested them red-handed while digging graves in a graveyard,” Adil Shah, assistant sub-inspector of Garhi Habibullah police, told reporters.

He said that acting on a tip-off that a group of people equipped with tools was digging graves at the ancient Ratwali graveyard, a police party, which was already patrolling the area, raided the site and arrested four treasure hunters.

Mr Shah said that four suspects, including Swab Khan belonging to Hangu, Mohammad Saqib hailing from Mansehra and Usman Ali and Mohammad Manzoor from Abbottabad were arrested during the raid.

“We have also seized the gadgets and equipment used in digging the graves,” he said.

The official said that the arrested persons were booked under Section 297 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and an investigation had been launched against them.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2026