KOHAT, July 18: The Kohat region police arrested 2,527 hardened criminals and militants during first six months of the current year during search operations in the three districts with negligible 18 per cent conviction rate.Out of the 2,527 arrests made, 1,707 were released at the police station level and only 820 had been given punishments, it was learnt.

But independent sources said actual punishment ratio was even less because of corruption in the lower courts.—Correspondent