Tip-offs from the public have led to the arrests of at least 60 terrorists and religious extremists in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region since police launched an anti-terrorism campaign on May 23.

Police have busted nine terrorist gangs and one religious extremist group on the strength of more than 300 pieces of information provided by local people. They also seized nearly 160 sets of explosive devices, 40 kilograms of explosive materials and multimedia cards with content related to jihad, or "holy war."

Residents of Hotan prefecture's Pishan county were described as a new force in combating violence.

In one recent case, local residents set up barricades on main roads in every village and checked people and vehicles passing by, Xinjiang's news portal www.ts.cn reported.

During the checks, villagers encountered three suspects carrying explosive devices.

"He said we were all Uyghurs and Muslims and told me not to betray him. He told us to do what they were doing. Therefore, I was sure they were terrorists," one villager said.

Several villagers finally restrained the three and confiscated 12 explosive devices.

Three knife-wielding attackers broke into a chess and card room in Hotan Sunday afternoon and injured four civilians.

Armed police arrived at the scene very quickly and subdued the attackers. Two of the attackers died with severe injuries and one was detained.