Elite force deployed to thwart attacks within ‘five minutes’, says IG

Says police sent fingerprints of Judicial Complex bomber to NADRA for identification.

PESHAWAR:

After suicide bombers attacked the Judicial Complex on March 18 in the heart of a security zone in Peshawar, the district police have had to review their security measures and formulate a new attack-focused plan.

The ‘on the offensive’ approach has been initiated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IG Akbar Khan Hoti to thwart militant assaults in the district, especially in the city.

Talking to Express News about proactive security measures, the IG said Peshawar was divided into five zones and elite force officials would be deployed in each zone to repulse and provide immediate response in case of any attacks.

Hoti explained the elite force would secure the five zones, Peshawar city, Cantonment, Hayatabad, Warsak Road and Kohat Road. “Officials would secure the area from dawn till dusk,” and a fresh deployment would take the next shift.

Five platoons of elite forces would be deployed according to the security plan. “The officials would be highly trained and equipped, capable to react to any given emergency situation within five minutes,” asserted IG Hoti.

The police officials deputed at government installations will also focus more on performing their duties instead of wasting time on menial tasks, he added. IG Hoti hinted most of the police officials protecting government institutions were assigned other duties besides their basic functions to provide safety.



Technically, he said, the police personnel are there to be vigilant, to keep an eye on every person who checks in or out of a building. “They are not deployed to open and close gates for other officials.” Tasking policemen with such chores minimises ability to secure the facilities they are assigned to protect.

Talking about the nature of the attack on the Judicial Complex, the IG said police investigative teams are comprehensively examining every detail of the attack and are drawing parallels to other attacks of  similar nature.

IG Hoti discussed the tactics of the judicial academy attack and said two militants barged into the limits of the academy through the adjacent Nishtar Hall. One suicide bomber was shot dead by the police.

“The other [second bomber] was also shot by an official on foot, but he first went up to the first floor of the academy and detonated his explosive vest.”

IG Hoti said they have fingerprints of the terrorist who was shot dead and had sent them to the National Database and Registration Authority to ascertain his identity.

He explained the police also launched targeted operations on Kohat Road and arrested multiple suspects. IG Akbar Khan Hoti said, “The police have released those who were innocent, while some suspects are still being interrogated.”

On Thursday evening, Chief Minister Justice (retired) Tariq Parvez Khan announced financial compensation of Rs0.3million to families of deceased victims and Rs0.1million for the injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2013.