SAMBA: Seven alleged hardcore criminals were arrested and sharp-edged weapons were seized in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

The criminals were roaming in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) when they were intercepted and arrested by police near AIIMS Vijaypur, a police spokesman said.

He identified the arrested accused as Yaqoob Ali alias "Yuka", Ismail alias "Bachu" and Mohd Iqbal of Samba; Mohd Sain, Murad Ali and Mohd Irfan of Jammu; and Gazanfer of Doda, and said they were members of an organised syndicate and were planning to commit some "heinous offence".