MARDAN At least 35 Afghan and local prayer leaders were arrested by the law enforcement agency and security forces in the district here on Saturday.
It was learnt that law enforcement agency and security forces started an operation in Mardan and arrested some 35 clerics in various areas of the district.
On Friday late night security forces searched Kohi Burmaol area and arrested two prayer leaders identified as Maulana Sultan Ghani Arif and Maulana Aziz Chitrali. They are believed to be accomplices of militants. Both the arrested persons are locals.
According to officials, both the prayer leaders opened firing on the security forces when they tried to apprehend them.
An official of the armed forces identified as Hawaldar Salim received a bullet in his leg during exchange of fire.
However both the prayer leaders were arrested by the security forces and were taken to some unknown place for interrogation.
Security forces also apprehended four suspected persons near Punjab Regiment Centre. The City, Sadar and Hoti police stations also apprehended some 28 prayer leaders, most of them Afghans, from various mosques.
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