Mardan and Swabi districts: second phase of grand operation against criminals from January

Deputy Inspector General Mardan Region, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah has said that the second phase of grand operation against the saboteurs, kidnappers and criminals in the two districts of Mardan and Swabi would commence from January 1st, 2008.
He said that 25 special teams of commandos have been formed under the supervision of SP Swabi, Muhammad Rafique Khan Swati and SP Muhammad Iqbal Khan for the grand operation, said a press release issued here on Monday. DIG Mardan Region disclosed this in a special briefing to media persons after attending a high level meeting on Monday.
He said that in the first phase of the operation 20 proclaimed offenders have been netted in a commando action adding that 10 police officials embraced martyrdom in the 18 encounters whereas seven hardened criminals were killed.
During raids on the dens and hideouts of criminals more than 2000 proclaimed offenders and over 3000 armed people were apprehended and seven Kalashnikoves, 500 Kalakoves, 1000 rifles, 2500 guns, 4000 pistols and 200,000 cartridges were recovered from their custody.
Moreover, he went on to add that the police thwarted many terrorism bids and seized 650 dynamites, huge cache of explosive material, 25 rocket shells and two anti-tank mines from the custody of the saboteurs. Similarly, in a crackdown against the drug smugglers huge quantity of hashish worth millions of rupees, opium, heroin and 2000 bottles of liquor were seized from the custody of the smugglers and the smuggling bids were thwarted.
Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said that the spirits of the police officials of Mardan region were high despite the loss of precious lives of their colleagues in various encounters and were performing their duties with great national zeal and enthusiasm.