Vying for peace: Police chalk out ‘special security plan’ for Swat

District to be divided into seven zones, all entry and exit points to be closely monitored.

MINGORA:

Keeping in mind the recent wave of target killings of peace committee members, a special security plan has been chalked out by the district police in Swat.

The plan has been devised to ensure foolproof security ahead of Eidul Fitr, with the district divided into seven zones in which all mosques and bazaars along with entry and exit points of these zones would be closely monitored.

“Security in all zones would be heightened and heavy police force would be deployed. Foremost preference has been given to mosques and Eidgahs where police has been advised to keep a vigilant eye on the movement of every suspect,” said DPO Sher Akbar Khan.

Khan added intelligence personnel will also accompany the regular police. “Special directives have been issued to the police force to keep a cautious eye on suspected miscreants and avert any untoward situation.”



Moreover, the holiday requests of all police personnel have been turned down, added the DPO. He appealed to people from all walks of life to also keep an eye on their surroundings during Eid and immediately inform law enforcement agencies of any suspicious activities.

In the past week, three peace volunteers were killed. The most recent incident took place on July 27 when peace committee chief Badiur Rehman was shot in Imam Dherai, Kabal tehsil.

According to the Nepkikhel Aman (peace) Jirga statistics, 50 people have been killed in targeted attacks since the beginning of the year.

Idrees Khan, who is the president of Nepkikhel Aman Jirga and chief of the Swat Peace Militia, earlier criticised the district police for their lack of assistance in keeping the valley safe. “We voluntarily guard our villages and keep an eye on all entry passages. Unfortunately, we have never seen the police assist us in our night patrols,” he complained.



Search operation

A search operation was carried out at Khwazakhela and its suburbs on Saturday.

According to Khwazakhela police, a number of illegal weapons were recovered from various areas during a joint operation of police and security forces.

Shops, houses and other buildings were searched and several suspects were arrested for possessing illegal weapons.

Security personnel also checked documents of outsiders and directed shopkeepers and vendors to immediately inform the nearest police station of any suspicious person or activity.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2013.