LOWER DIR: As part of an operation against the outlaws, the Adenzai police claimed to have apprehended an inter-district gang of robbers on Saturday.

Speaking at a news conference at Chakdara, the Adenzai circle DSP Fakhar Alam, SHO Ouch Mohammad Ayub Khan and others said the gang had robbed several drivers and hoteliers in the limits of Chakdara police station.

The police officials said the local facilitators were also arrested and several mobile phone sets, other looted items, a motorcar and arms were recovered from the criminals.

The arrested outlaws were identified as Ihsanullah alias Sheeno, Mohammad Rahim, Tahir Zaman and Gul. The accused were handed over to the Malakand police as they were wanted to them in other cases, police added. The transporters’ union appreciated the Adenzai police for this successful operation.

KANO BRIDGE’S CONSTRUCTION: Residents of Shamshi Khan area threatened to take to the roads if the construction work on Kano bridge was not completed in a timely manner.

Talking to local journalists, residents complained that construction on the Rs 60 million Kano Shamshi Khan bridge had begun seven years ago but had not yet been finished.Ninety per cent of the project was finished, according to the residents, but the concerned contractor had halted work because of financial difficulties. They claimed that although the bridge connected 40,000 residents to the market, the entire community was left stranded each year during floods.

MUNDA-SAMARBAGH ROAD: Samarbagh area residents complained that the Munda-Samarbagh road was in poor shape because the relevant departments and local lawmakers had not spoken out about it for the previous twelve years.

Talking to media persons, they emphasised the poor state of the key NHA Munda-Samarbagh Road. The road that connected the region with Afghanistan and led to picturesque locations like Shahi and Binshahi were reportedly congested. The locals urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority to inspect the road and begin repairs.

They said that numerous attempts to reach the district administration and local lawmakers had failed. If the problem was not fixed quickly, they threatened to hold protest demonstrations on the main road.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024