Boosting surveillance: Anti-target killing wing set up to rein in culprits

Police official says sharp increase in incidents prompted police to establish special cell.

PESHAWAR:

A special anti-target killing wing has been established in the District Security Branch (DSB) – an intelligence department of the police which comes directly under the control of the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO).

The move is aimed at curbing the practice of target killings, which have increased manifold since the beginning of 2013. Incidents include sectarian killings and targeting police personnel.

“Dozens of people were being killed in target killing incidents every year, but there was an increase in such attacks this year, which is why a special anti-target killing wing has been established in the DSB,” a police official told The Express Tribune.

He said DSB is a small department of the police working in every district. Its main function is to provide intelligence reports to DIGs or the CCPO against criminals and antisocial elements in their respective jurisdictions.



“DSB is considered the eyes and ears of DIGs, who send their diaries regarding crimes and other activities directly to police high-ups,” he explained, adding the wing will help police reach the culprits behind
these killings.

“This is the first step in the right direction and will yield positive results in the coming days,” the police official added.

In the first six months of 2013, 31 people have been slain in target killing incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Prominent Shia leader Dr Riaz Hussain from Parachinar, Kurram Agency was gunned down in January in Dabgari Gardens, followed by the killing of eye specialist Dr Shah Nawaz inside his clinic in Saddar. In addition, many Shia advocates, students and traders died in a target killing spree which ended before the May 11 general elections.

Soon after the polls, target killings of police officers began. DSP Traffic Amanullah was the first to be killed along with his gunman, followed by SHO Mira Jan, SHO Amir Sultan, sub-inspector Gharibullah and many others.



During Ramazan, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Inspector Mazhar Ali Shah was killed along with former assistant director of IB, Arif Khan, who was slain in Dhaki Nalbandi area. In all the cases the attackers managed to escape successfully.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2013.