LAHORE: The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have arrested four alleged terrorists belong to banned outfits during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) while Levies Forces foiled a terror bid along Pak-Afghan border in Chagai district.
The CTD arrested the militants during IBOs conducted in Multan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha.
According to the CTD spokesperson on Saturday, the Punjab CTD conducted 26 intelligence based operations in different districts of the province to effectively deal with any untoward incident of terrorism, in which 26 suspected persons were interrogated and four alleged terrorists were arrested with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials.
The arrested terrorists include Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Al-Qaeda members identified as: Ayaz Khan, Yasin, Muhammad Salim and Muhammad Asad, he added.
The spokesman said that 1,414 grams of explosives, five detonators, 12.3 feet of safety fuse wire, 4.92 feet of prima card, four pistols 30 bore with ammunition, four prohibited magazines, 22 pamphlets and Rs4,520 in cash were recovered from possession of the terrorists. He added that the terrorists wanted to target important installations and religious places.
The police have registered four cases against the arrested alleged terrorists in Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Sargodha and Multan and shifted them to an unknown location for further investigation, he added.
The spokesman said that 419 combing operations were conducted during this week with the help of local police and security agencies, in which 21,897 persons were checked, 94 suspects were arrested, 63 FIRs were registered and 40 recoveries were made. The CTD was diligently pursuing its goal of a safe Punjab and no stone would be left unturned in its efforts to bring terrorists and anti-state elements behind bars, he concluded.
In Hyderabad, the Sindh CTD arrested a suspect allegedly associated with the banned outfit in a raid in Sehrish Nagar area of Qasimabad in the wee hours of Saturday.
An official of the CTD identified the arrested suspect as Sarkash Bhatti alias Sunny. He claimed that the CTD recovered cash and other evidence which give credence to his involvement in raising funds for the prescribed outfit.
He said Bhatti’s name was also added in the Fourth Schedule last year while he was also booked in multiple FIRs.
Levies force foils major terrorism bid
In Chagai, Levies force claimed to have recovered mortar, rocket and bomb in an operation conducted on tip off near Pak-Afghan border in district Chagai of Balochistan province on Saturday.
According to levies force, Chagai, two mortars, one rocket and one bomb, which had been hidden in a deserted place, were recovered in an operation conducted on a tip off along Pak-Afghan border in district Chagai.
The recovered arms were shifted to levies station Chagai for taking further legal action. Further investigation into the case was underway.