Difficult drive: Three arrested for attacking polio workers

District Police Officer Rai Zameerul Haq says each polio team would be accompanied by a constable in Muzaffargarh

MULTAN:

Muzaffargarh police claimed on Friday to have arrested three men suspected of attacking Health Department workers during a polio vaccination drive.

A police spokesman said four polio workers, including a woman, were administering polio vaccines to children in Patti Sultan Khar some people led by Asghar, Arif and Akram tried to stop them.

They said told them that local clerics had warned them against the polio campaign.

Atta Muhammad told The Express Tribune that the polio team tried to persuade them of the benefit of the vaccine. He said when they did not leave, they were warned of administration action if they hindered their work.

He said the men attacked the team, slapping and kicking them.

He said police intervened and arrested three of the men on the spot, while three others managed to escape.

Saddar Station House Officer Saleem Bhutta told The Express Tribune that an FIR had been registered against six men.

He said raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining suspects.

District health officer Athar Iqbal said security for polio teams had been increased.

He said the government took such incidents were seriously and would take strict action against those creating hurdles for polio workers.

District Police Officer Rai Zameerul Haq told The Express Tribune that each polio team would be accompanied by a constable in Muzaffargarh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2014.