Zainuddin Mehsuds brother, cousins arrested

ABBOTTABAD - The security forces have arrested over 50 suspects including three family members of the slain militant leader Qari Zainuddin Mehsud from a mountain which is believed to be the hub of Taliban militants, while three hotels were raided to hunt down foreign journalists, it has been learnt reliably. As the siege against the suspect militants continues at Jhangi Syedan, a mountain located some two kilometers away from Abbottabad city where hundreds of militants are believed to have created their hideaways in the recent years, the security forces have conducted search raids to nab dozens of militant suspects. There are reports that two brothers and a cousin of Qari Zainuddin Mehsud - a rebellious Taliban commander who had revolted against the slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud back in 2009 - were also detained from the aforesaid area. Zainuddins reported cousins were identified as Ali Shaban Mehsud and Qari Zaryab Mehsud and his brother was identified as Abdullah. Their arrests were reportedly made last week. Official sources said it was not established as yet whether the suspects were using fake names. Qari Zain was killed in Dera Ismail Khan by one of his guards just a week after he publicly announced to revolt against Baitullah Mehsud. The security agencies cordoned off all the entry and exit points to and from Jhangi Syedan to lay hands on Zainuddins family and other suspect militants on May 9 just a week after worlds most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden was killed here. This development regarding Zains family was first unearthed on May 10. Apart from Qari Zainuddins three family members, other 50+ suspects nabbed by the security agencies were also rounded up mostly from Jhangi Syedan, and some were held from Rush, Shaikhal Baandi, Malikpura and Mirpur (Abbottabad).

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