Countering land mafia: Cops trained to better investigate land grabbing cases

Taught to maintain police record including crime data on a monthly basis

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to tackle land grabbing in the capital — which has been the source of a host of armed clashes resulting in fatalities — the Islamabad Police arranged a week-long course for its investigators so that they can lodge strong cases against land grabbers such that lead to the offenders being punished by the relevant courts.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the course, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that the purpose of the course was to improve the professional skills of investigators and enhance the quality of investigations against land grabbers so that they may face punishment as per law.

This course had been conducted on directions from IGP Dr Temuri. Policemen were given lectures about lodging well-built cases against those involved in land grabbing, lessons for positive change in attitudes of police investigation officers and on lodging First Information Report against land mafia and preparing a challan.

They were also taught to maintain the police record including crime data on a monthly basis.

Dr Temuri expressed the hope that such courses would improve the quality of police investigations. The IGP said that the School of Investigation has been set up at Police Line Headquarters where investigation officers with expertise in their respective fields are imparting training.

The Islamabad police chief said that it was crucial for the police force to have a good investigation cell.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2018.