Law and order: Stringent security measures planned for Eid

Teams formed to guard mosques and imambargahs across province

BAHAWALPUR/ FAISALABAD/ LAHORE/ BHAKKAR: Punjab Police have devised a security plan for chand raat and Eid holidays.

In this regard, the IGP chaired a meeting of RPOs and DPOs at Central Police Office on Monday.

Under the plan, 27,761 police officials would be on duty on chand raat at bazaars, shopping plazas, bus terminals and railway stations across the province. They include 239 gazetted officers, 489 inspectors, 1,175 sub-inspectors, 1,613 assistant sub-inspectors, 1,272 head constables, 15,220 constables, 7,662 police volunteers and 124 other police officials.

The IGP said walkthrough gates, metal detectors and CCTV cameras would be used to ensure security. The meeting decided that 55,363 police officials would guard 19,032 mosques, 1,247 imambargahs and 765 other worship places on Eid. As many as 135 walkthrough gates, 12,546 metal detectors and 1,080 CCTV cameras would be in place for mosques and imambargahs declared sensitive for security. The IGP ordered that police be also deployed at parks, zoos and historical buildings. He asked the RPOs and the DPOs to visit the families of slain policemen and distribute at least Rs5,000 as Eidi and sweets among them.

He said a committee headed by the Establishment additional IGP would look into the matter regarding demotion of at least 9,000 police officials.

Lahore

At least 8,000 police officials will be on Eid duty in the city. Teams of Dolphin Squad, the Police Response Unit and Mujahid Squad will patrol 40 markets across the city.  Commandoes and policemen in plainclothes, too, will be deployed. Eid congregations at open places will be surrounded using tents.

The CCPO has ordered divisional SPs to ensure foolproof security for parks and graveyards. He asked them to remain in contact with traffic police to maintain smooth follow of traffic on the holidays. He ordered that search operations be conducted in areas around major Eid gatherings. The CCPO ordered deployment of snipers at the buildings near mosques and imambargahs declared sensitive for security. He said members of Ruet-i-Hilal Committee should also be provided security.



Faisalabad

Amir Waheed, a spokesman for Faisalabad police, said major Eid congregations would be held at 984 places across the district, including 758 at mosques and 226 at open spaces.

He said more than 5,000 police officials along with Police Qaumi Razakars (volunteers) will guard the congregations. Five SPs, 13 DSPs, 11 inspectors and 97 sub-inspectors will enforce the security plan. He said 130 pickets had been set up at various places, Kamalpur interchange, Sahianwala and Deputy Wala.

Waheed said policemen on horses, too, would patrol the city. Special teams would patrol in 24 areas declared sensitive and 12 Elite Force teams would patrol main roads in Faisalabad.

Bahawalpur

In Rahim Yar Khan, 2,723 security officials will guard 496 EID congregations. CCTV cameras will be installed at 25 places. A control room at the DPO office will monitor security arrangements.

DPO Zeeshan Asghar has ordered deployment of 120 security officials at 12 Eid bazaars. As many as 681 officials will be on duty on chand raat. Security has also been tightened at city entrances.

For the monitoring of Eid bazaars, 36 CCTV cameras have been installed. Eid prayer will be offered at 419 mosques, 40 imambargahs and 37 open places. Of these, 54 places have been placed under security category A, 28 under B and 414 under C.

Bhakkar

In Bhakkar, Eid prayers will be offered at 334 places. As many as 52 places fall in the security category A, 68 in B and 214 in C. As many as 646 police officials, including the DPO, will be on duty on Eid holidays.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.