SWABI, Jan 8: Police on Tuesday arrested around 50 Afghan nationals at Baraki Afghan Refugee Camp here suspecting them of being involved in criminal activities.

An official said police began the search operation after cordoning off the camp early in the morning.

He said no one was allowed to leave the premises during the operation, which was carried out in light of the growing acts of terrorism in the district.

The official claimed that one of the two terrorists, who had escaped from the police custody three days ago, later went to Baraki Afghan Refugee Camp and took refuge there.

He said the other terrorist, who blew himself up inside the house of a farmer, appeared to be an Afghan national.

When contacted, SHO of the city police station Izhar Shah confirmed the arrests, saying 40 to 50 Afghan suspects had been taken into custody.

He said the operation was conducted peacefully and no untoward incident took place.

The SHO said all the arrested men had been shifted to a secret location for interrogation and that those found innocent would be freed.

He said as the operation was underway, unidentified motorcyclists hurled hand grenades at a police patrol in the main bazaar of the district.

Meanwhile, official sources said policemen and members of charity organisations in the district were on the militants’ hit list.