Terrorism

KP Police thwart terrorists plotting attacks during Muharram

By Javed Khan

Police officials in Charsadda present three suspected terrorists to the media on August 26. [KP Police]

Police officials in Charsadda present three suspected terrorists to the media on August 26. [KP Police]

PESHAWAR -- Police in Charsadda District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have arrested three suspected members of a terrorist group accused of plotting violence during the holy month of Muharram.

The suspects were planning to carry out suicide attacks on the Khwaja Was Police Station and the Sro Kelay Police Station as well as police patrol vans, officials said on Wednesday (August 26).

"Three members of the [terrorist] network have been arrested during a major operation in the area," said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shabqadar Farooq Zaman.

The terrorists were identified as Luqman Khan, Bakht Ryan and Taj Muhammad.

Three suspected terrorists are shown in police custody in Charsadda August 26. [KP Police]

Three suspected terrorists are shown in police custody in Charsadda August 26. [KP Police]

Officials did not identify the suspects' alleged terrorist group.

Explosive powder, improvised explosive devices and hand grenade were recovered during the operation, which police carried out after receiving a tip.

The suspects were involved too in extortion in Peshawar and Charsadda and other terrorist activities, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Shabqadar Johar Shaid Khan.

Those arrested are suspected of murdering Premjeet Singh, a Sikh man, in 2014 in Charsadda.

Police beefed up security in Charsadda, Peshawar and other districts after becoming aware of threats of terrorist acts during Muharram, which began August 21.

KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sanaullah Abbasi on Monday and Tuesday (August 24-25) inspected security arrangements in Peshawar, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and other districts and ordered police officers to further upgrade security.

"Security has been further upgraded in Peshawar and other areas since the start of Muharram," said Capital City Police Officer Peshawar Mohammad Ali Gandapur.

Police officers from other districts have been deployed in more sensitive areas of Peshawar, he said.

"We have proposed to the government to suspend cellular phone service during the last two days of Muharram to avert any untoward incident," said Gandapur.

About 6,000 policemen are deployed in Peshawar for security. Their numbers will grow to 8,000 by Friday (August 28) to ensure foolproof arrangements, he added.

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