Police destroy terrorist hideouts in Lakki forest operation

WEB DESK: Police, backed by counter-terrorism personnel, destroyed several terrorist hideouts in a forested area near Wanda Painda Khan on Friday, disrupting safe havens used for planning attacks along a key inter-provincial road.

A police official said the Saddar police conducted the operation in coordination with Counter-Terrorism Department commandos, Elite Force, and Quick Response Force members following intelligence about the presence of terrorists and criminals in the dense forests.

Law enforcers thoroughly searched the hideouts before setting them ablaze to prevent further use, according to Dawn News.

Targeted Area Posed Security Threat

The official noted that terrorists had been using these remote forested locations as bases to plan and execute activities, particularly along the Lakki-Darra Tang section of the Bannu-Mianwali Road, which links Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab.

During the raid, temporary checkpoints were established on roads and dirt tracks leading to the area, with suspected houses and vehicles also searched. It remained unclear whether any suspects were arrested in the action.

Elders and Police Join Hands Against Crime

Separately, elders from the Abdulkhel area joined local police in a concerted effort to eliminate criminals and social evils from the district. The consensus emerged during a meeting held at the District Headquarters Complex in Tajazai on Friday.

District Police Officer Nazir Khan and other government officials attended the gathering, where participants agreed to develop a joint strategy to curb narcotics peddling, aerial firing, and other moral and social ills in the region.