RAWALPINDI -  Police along with Elite Force have recovered a huge quantity of explosives and arrested two suspects at Hattian Chowk near Ghazi Barotha Bridge on GT Road, sources told The Nation on Friday.

A case has been registered against the two detained suspects while further investigation was underway, they said.

According to sources, District Police Officer (DPO) Attock Ibadat Nisar received information that some culprits mighty try to smuggle explosives from KP. He directed the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Hazro Circle Raja Fayyaz ul Haq Naheem to beef up security on GT Road and place special pickets to thwart the explosive smuggling attempt.

Following the directions, SDPO Raja Fayyaz along with Elite Force started snap checking of vehicles coming from KP at Hattian Chowk.

Sources said that police spotted a suspicious car (LOR-3779) with four persons and stopped it for checking. During the search, they said, police found explosives and detonators concealed tactfully in different cavities of the car. Police managed to arrest the two suspects while two others fled away from the scene. The arrested suspects were shifted to the police station where they have been identified as Adil and Khayal Zaman, sources said.

Police have recovered 23kg explosive, 185 road type Wabox, 1050 meter safety fuse, five bundles of type number 11 and 500 detonators from the possession of the two accused. A case under sections 4/5 Explosive Act and 7 Anti-Terrorism Act against the accused whereas further investigation was on, sources added.

SDPO Raja Fayyaz ul Haq Naheem, when contacted, said police have foiled an explosive smuggling bid by arresting two suspected terrorists during a snap checking on GT Road.

He said it was suggested during the investigation that the explosives were being smuggled in Punjab from Swabi. “Police are investigating whether the explosive material was to be used for terrorist activity or blasting the mines,” SDPO Raja Fayyaz said. Meanwhile, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Wisal Fakhar Sultan Raja has appreciated the efforts of DPO Attock, Hazro police and Elite Force for thwarting explosive smuggling attempt. Meanwhile, two dacoits have robbed an expatriate in the guise of policemen, sources disclosed to the Nation on Friday.

Police have started the investigation on complaints of victims. Superintendent of Police (SP) Potohar Division Syed Ali also showed concern over the surge in crime in limits of Police Station Airport and directed Station House Officer (SHO) Ahsan Kiyani to lodge cases against robbers and arrest them.

According to sources, an expatriate identified as Aftab Ahmed Khawaja, who arrived from Saudi Arabia on October 31, was on his way home in a vehicle from Benazir Bhutto Islamabad International Airport (BBIIAP) when he was intercepted by two men wearing Punjab Police uniform at Chaklala Scheme-III, a few yards away from police picket.

The impersonators asked him to show his passport and the purse. Sources said that Aftab took the purse and passport out from the pocket, the impersonators snatched his purse containing 12000 Saudi Riyals and sped away towards Katcheri.

The victim went to nearby police check post and lodged a complaint with ASI Amir who instead of lodging FIR, tried to sooth the victim and mentioned the happening of the incident in daily crime register.

Similarly, unknown dacoits having weapons in their hands stormed in a grocery store located at Airport Cooperative Housing Society and made the shopkeeper hostage at gunpoint.

Later, the dacoits snatched cash from the shopkeeper and ran away.

Zahid Qureshi, the victim shopkeeper, approached PS Airport for registration of a case against the dacoits.

SP Potohar Division Syed Ali, while talking to The Nation, said he had taken serious notice of the two incidents and has directed SHO to file cases against the dacoits and trace them immediately.

He said police have been trying to control street crime in limits of PS Airport. He said the fleeing dacoits would be arrested soon.