PESHAWAR, Aug 22: Security forces arrested 10 suspected militants and seized weapons, wigs and women’s outfits from a fake madressah near Miranshah, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said on Monday.

A deserted compound, designed to look like a religious school, was raided late on Sunday, it said.

“The compound was being used as a terrorist den. Security forces carried out a search following a tip-off that suspected militants visited the compound,” said the statement.

During the search, the troops seized grenades, fuses, guns, binoculars, daggers and commando uniforms as well as women costumes and wigs, it said.

“The madressah had been established in an unpopulated location and is an attempt on part of terrorists to use the cover of religious places for sabotage activities,” the military said.

In a related development, security forces arrested seven suspected terrorists from Mera Din town in Shawal Valley in the tribal belt while three others were held in the area near the Afghan border.

The detainees were all aged between 18 and 25, but their identities could not be established immediately, the military said. They were handed over to the security agencies for interrogation, the statement added.

PHONE LINE BLAST: Unidentified persons blew up a main telephone line affecting over 1,000 telephones in Wana on Monday.

The political administration said saboteurs had planted a powerful bomb in Wana bazaar near the telephone exchange.—Agenices

Our Correspondent adds from Miranshah: The political authorities have warned tribesmen against going near military installations in the night.

A man beating drum went around the Miranshah bazaar on Monday warning the tribesmen not to go near the military installation after evening.

Meanwhile, an army tanker carrying water for the forces was blown up when it struck against a landmine near the Maddakhel Serai in the Dattakhel bazaar on Monday morning.