Two terrorists held with explosives in Peshawar

PESHAWAR/RAWALPINDI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested two terrorists and recovered explosives from their possession in Peshawar on Wednesday.

The CTD spokesman said the operation was conducted on a tip-off in the Doranpur area of the provincial capital, during which banned outfit members – Ghulamullah and Shabbir Khan – were apprehended and 15 kilogrammes of explosives hidden in ghee tin seized. And in Lower Dir, three people were injured in a remote-controlled blast in Sori Pao village of the Maidan area.

Police said the vehicle of village defence committee member Toti Rehman was en route to the bazaar from the village when it came under attack. Subsequently Rehman and two others were injured. They were shifted to the THQ Hospital Lal Qila.

However, Dir Task Force Commandant Colonel Khalid Mehmood Shafi said none of the injured belonged to the defence committee. Shafi said they were locals who were attacked over a conflict on water and added three people had been arrested in connection with the blast.

On the other hand, the ISPR said security forces arrested seven terrorists and 20 Afghan suspects during search operations in Attock, DG Khan and Lahore over the past three days. A large quantity of explosives automatic weapons and ammunition was also recovered.

The terrorists that have been taken into custody are affiliated with the banned TTP, the ISPR said, adding that the seized explosives and weapons were likely to be used for terrorist activities in major cities of Punjab.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies personnel recovered arms ammunition and explosives from a house in Taxila. The confiscated items included shot guns, rifles, 20 kilogrammes of explosives, 35 detonators and foreign currency. A suspect identified as Abdul Rehman was arrested during the raid but he later managed to escape.