LAKKI MARWAT: Police claimed on Saturday to have arrested five wanted outlaws during a search operation in Kurrum Par area here.

`Personnel of Dadiwala police station assisted by Elite Force and Anti Terrorist Squad jawans took part in the offensive against anti-social elements,` said an official.

He said that DPO Ismail Kharak had ordered launching of the operation after receiving reports about infiltration of hardened criminals into the area from nearby mountains.

The law-enforcers, said the official, arrested five outlaws who were wanted by police in murder and other cases.

The arrested outlaws were identified as Sardaraz, Shaukat, Umar Hayat, Sadiq Ali and Kifayatullah, said the official, adding that police also seized weapons from them.

CRANE HUNTING: At least 25,000 Siberian cranes are either killed or trapped each year in the country due to excessive hunting, says divisional forest officer wildlife Abdul Halim.

Speaking at a gathering of hunters in Ghoriwala near Naurang town on Saturday, he said that shooting and live trapping of birds also separated 25,000 more cranes from their pairs.

He said Bannu division had global fame for hunting and live trapping of cranes.

`But widespread hunting posed serious threat to the survival of cranes and therefore the government had banned hunting,` he maintained.

Mr Halim asked the hunters to protect the natural habitat of water birds and avoid indulging in the practice of their illegal hunting.

He reiterated that the wildlife department would ensure curbing the hunting practice at all costs and implement the ban in letter and spirit.

`The hunters should abide by the relevant laws besides extending support to the wildlife department to save cranes and other wildlife and their natural habitat, he said.

SDFO wildlife, Lakki, Abdul Rehman and other officials were also present on the occasion.