20 more suspects arrested as operation intensified in Lower Kurram

PARACHINAR/KOHAT: The security forces and police have intensified the ongoing operation in Lower Kurram and 20 more wanted suspects were arrested, officials said on Sunday.

With these new arrests, they officials said, the total number of detained individuals has risen to 85. Among those arrested, 18 are stated to be suspected terrorists, while 20 were identified as facilitators.

The operation has also led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons and looted goods

Regional Police Officer (RPO) of Kohat, Abbas Majeed Marwat, who was leading the operation, told The News that the crackdown was focused on areas including Bagan, Manduri, and Ochat, where militant activity had been reported.

The officials said that the security forces have seized a huge cache of weapons, including 81 sub-machine guns (SMGs), two heavy machine guns (HMGs), two light machine guns (LMGs), Kalashnikovs, 12-gauge shotguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, four trucks loaded with stolen goods - containing medicines and essential supplies - have been recovered from houses and hideouts.

To flush out the militants, the officials said, gunship helicopters and artillery were being used to target their suspected hideouts in the mountainous regions. Several of the detained suspects were already named in Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) records, with 57 of them listed in ongoing FIRs.

The security forces have been conducting search operations for several days in Lower Kurram, particularly in Ochat, Bagan, and Manduri, targeting those involved in attacks on convoys, looting supplies, and acts of arson. The government has also placed bounties on several key terrorists, prompting intensified efforts to capture them.

The officials said that house-to-house searches were being carried out in multiple areas to ensure the elimination of terrorist elements.

Meanwhile, security forces are making all-out efforts to secure the Kohat-Parachinar road, ensuring safe passage for civilians and military convoys.