BANNU, Dec 7: Political authorities of the Bannu Frontier Region (BFR) have arrested 25 tribesmen and seized five vehicles in a crackdown on the Mamandkhel branch of the Wazir tribe here.

The operation was launched on Tuesday morning to arrest criminals involved in an attack on a polio vaccination team and snatching their vehicle on Dec 1. The authorities have also detained seven Khasadars of the Mamandkhel sub-tribe and stopped salaries of all Class IV employees and Khasadars who belonged to the Mamandkhels to force them to hand over suspects involved in the snatching of the vehicle of the polio team.

Besides, the authorities have also sealed hotels, inns and shops of the Mamandkhel tribesmen in Bannu city. A team comprising personnel of the FC, Khasadar Force, and elders of the area raided the house of Sarwar in the Mamandkhel area, but could not find any criminals. The raiding party, later, burnt the house.