Security threat: 1,245 combing operations yield 1,369 arrests

As many as 27,658 people questioned and 305 weapons recovered

LAHORE: As many as 1,369 suspects and 288 proclaimed offenders were arrested, 305 weapons recovered, 27,658 people questioned and 659 cases registered in 1,245 combing operations conducted by Punjab Police during Eid holidays.

“The combing operations were conducted following terrorist attacks in Quetta and Peshawar. Intelligence agencies had issued a security alert across the Punjab,” IGP Mushtaq Sukhera said.

Operations DIG Haider Ashraf said the operations had been launched near sensitive installations, government buildings, railway stations, markets, mosques, imambargahs and bus stands. “The force checked antecedents of those living around these areas using android phones and bio-metric machines,” the DIG said.

He said the exercise should be a reminder to the public that they should not allow any suspect to stay in their neighbourhoods. “It was a preliminary step towards countering terrorists,” he said.

In Lahore, 2,120 people were questioned and 31 arrested during 28 combing operations. In Shekhupura, 432 persons were questioned, 12 suspects and two proclaimed offenders were arrested and 11 weapons and 110 bullets were recovered during seven operations. In Nankana Sahib, 15 combing operations were conducted in which 421 suspects were questioned, 16 suspects and two proclaimed offenders were arrested and five weapons and 261 bullets were recovered.

In Kasur, 1,110 people were questioned, 91 suspects and two proclaimed offenders were arrested and 59 weapons and 178 bullets were recovered during 33 combing operations. In Gujranwala, 11 operations were conducted in which 181 people were questioned and 17 suspects and three proclaimed offenders were arrested. In Gujrat, 360 people questioned, 17 suspects and six proclaimed offenders arrested during 21 combing operations.

In Hafizabad, 220 people were questioned, 14 suspects and eight proclaimed offenders were arrested and five weapons and 55 bullets were recovered during 10 such operations. In Mandi Bahauddin, 28 combing operations were conducted in which 559 people were questioned, 29 suspects and 14 proclaimed offenders arrested and 15 weapons and 56 bullets were recovered. In Sialkot, 11 operations were conducted in which 87 people were questioned, eight suspects and a proclaimed offender arrested and four weapons recovered. In Jhelum, 55 operations were conducted, 776 people were questioned, 25 suspects and five proclaimed offenders arrested and four weapons and 44 bullets were recovered. In Chakwal, seven operations were conducted in which 302 people were questioned.

In Sargodha, 690 people were questioned, 30 suspects and a proclaimed offender were arrested and 18 weapons and 339 bullets recovered during 15 combing operations. In Faisalabad, 204 such operations were conducted in which 1,370 people were questioned, 213 suspects and nine proclaimed offenders arrested and 69 weapons and 690 bullets were recovered. Separately, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction with security arrangements across the province on Eidul Azha. He praised the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, police and other law enforcement agencies in this regard. He said Eid congregations had remained peaceful across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2016.