Special operation teams and soldiers raided a number of houses in the villages of Özalp and Saray districts of Van early Friday morning.

Police and soldier teams blocked the roads into the villages and searched the houses in detail.

Two people, Ahmet Çalışkan and Zafer Çalışkan, were detained in the Yamanyurt village and one, Atakan Kaplan, in the Örenburç village of the Saray district. Detainees were taken to Saray.

Security forces also raided a number of villages in the Özalp district, detaining one person in the Mollahasan village, one in Altınboğa village, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) executive Mahmut Bedir in Çubuklu village, one in Eğribelen village, one in Seydibey village and Özalp municipal council member Seyithan Şahin living in Van. Detainees are being held at the gendarme command of Özalp. The operation has reportedly targeted those alleged to have aided and abetted an illegal organization. Hundreds of people have gathered outside Özalp courthouse after the operation.

At least six students of the Kafkas University and one other person were also taken into custody by police in Kars as a result of simultaneous dawn raids in a number of houses and the Hakan Harakani student dormitory. Detainees are reportedly accused of taking part in clashes between police and demonstrators who protested against the murder by police of three Kurdish civilians in Hakkari's Yüksekova district on 6 December.

Police had recently taken 35 students in a similar operation. 11 among them were arrested and sent to prison.