KHAAR, June 19: Political authorities on Tuesday arrested 39 suspects and imposed a ban on display of arms in different parts of the Bajaur Agency after an upsurge in terrorist attacks in the area, a senior official said.

“The Bajaur Levies have started patrolling and setting up new checkpoints in the area bordering Afghanistan to check the movement of militants,” the official said, adding that the militants had enhanced their activities in the agency, creating a sense of insecurity among the people.

Nawagai tehsil Assistant Political Agent of Muhammad Jamil Khan told journalists in his office that law-enforcement agencies had arrested 39 suspects in the Mamond area, most of them Afghans, during a drive against anti-social elements.

He said the administration had banned display of weapons and, for the purpose, new checkpoints had been established in the area, adding that armed masked men would not be allowed to enter main towns of the agency.

“Some elements are trying to challenge the writ of the government. That is why the administration has banned the display of weapons and the movement of these elements in the main towns of the agency,” he said.