QUETTA/HANGU/LAHORE: The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on Saturday arrested at least seven suspected militants, including a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander from Hangu, Harnai and Lahore. According to security sources, on an intelligence report about the presence of TTP militants in the area, the security forces conducted a raid in Harnai district of Balochistan and arrested the three suspected militants including the TTP commander. Security forces also recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. Source said that initially, the militants resisted and later more contingent of personnel was called in to arrest them. Meanwhile, on tip off the security forces raided a house located in Bagatoo area of district Hangu, arresting four suspected terrorists of banned TTP. Heavy weapons including eight hand grenades, four Kalashnikovs, two remote control bombs, eight detonators, two batteries and hundreds of bullets were recovered from their possession. The suspects were shifted to undisclosed place for investigation. In Lahore police has arrested two suspected persons who issued mobile SIMs that were used in Peshawar APS attack. Security forces have launched a crackdown against militants operating in different parts of the country in the wake of the deadly Taliban assault on Peshawar’s Army Public School on Dec 16, which left 150 people, including more than 130 schoolchildren dead. Hundreds of militants have been arrested during the ongoing crackdown.
