PESHAWAR, Aug 26: As a part of anti-criminals operation in Tehsil Bara Khyber agency, the authorities on Monday arrested 25 criminals wanted in cases of murder and kidnappings for ransom and demolished the houses of those local people who had been harbouring these criminals.

The operation which had been launched in Tehsil Bara, Khyber agency, on the directives of the NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, had been jointly launched by Mahsud Scouts, Kurram Militia, police commandos and Khasadar forces to flush out notorious criminals hidden in various locality of the Khyber agency.

The operation has been focused on the criminals who had provided sanctuaries to the people who commit crimes of heinous nature in settled areas and made their way to parts of Khyber agency. The houses of most of the local people who were involved in running gambling dens, sale and business of narcotics and harbouring criminals, were bulldozed.

About 180 houses and gambling dens have been razed to the ground since the operation was launched four days ago.

The forces are backed by bulldozers and armoured vehicles to cope with an untoward incident.