Action, reaction: 30 school heads booked, five seminaries sealed

Mansehra DPO says verification of unregistered seminaries under way

MANSEHRA: At least 30 school administrators were booked for maintaining “poor security”, while five unregistered and under-construction seminaries were sealed on the route of proposed China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Addressing a press conference at his office on Monday, Mansehra DPO Chaudhry Ahsan Saifullah said action was taken following the issuance of standard operating procedures by the provincial government. He said the administration of around 2,400 government and private schools operating in the district were served with notices, asking them to ensure physical and technical security of their buildings as per the law.

Saifullah added after a review, the security advisory committee found 30 schools with “poor safety arrangements” following which cases were registered against the owners of these educational institutions. To a question, the DPO said under the National Action Plan, the verification process of unregistered seminaries was under way.

Search operation

Saifullah said the police arrested four dacoits during a search operation, while eight of their accomplices were still at large. He said those apprehended were identified as Azeem Jan, Niaz Muhammad, Nazeer Khan and Abdul Salam. Saifullah said the suspects hailed from Battagram.

Disguised as policemen, they used to enter houses under the pretext of search operations and would steal cash and valuables worth millions.  He said the accused confessed to committing 15 robberies.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2016.