Bannu operation enters fifth day as police report militant casualties, arrests

PESHAWAR: A targeted intelligence-based operation against suspected militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district entered its fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, with law enforcement agencies destroying multiple hideouts and recovering a large cache of weapons.

District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (retd) Furqan Bilal confirmed the development while speaking to media representatives from the demolished hideout of a local militant commander identified as Khore.

The operation comes amid a broader surge in terrorist activities across KP, where law enforcement personnel and security posts have frequently been targeted by militant groups in recent months.

Weapons cache seized, suspects rounded up

According to DPO Bilal, security personnel carried out structured raids on suspected militant hideouts throughout the district, leading to the recovery of arms, ammunition, and vehicles allegedly utilised in hostile operations.

“Several militants were killed during the intense engagements, while more than 55 suspects have been taken into custody for further interrogation,” the official stated, adding that a number of key hideouts were completely demolished to disrupt the local militant network.

The DPO affirmed that law enforcement agencies would maintain the crackdown and continue operations until the area was fully cleared of hostile elements.

Communications halted amid security concerns

To prevent coordination among suspects and maintain tactical advantage, authorities have temporarily suspended mobile and internet connectivity across parts of Bannu.

Police officials clarified that communication channels were cut solely due to security concerns and assured the public that services would be restored as soon as the security situation normalised. Security forces remain deployed in key pockets of the district to prevent any spillover of violence while search operations continue.