Similar squads will be on call across the city during Muharram and can be deployed at entry and exit points on the border of Peshawar and FATA if necessary. PHOTO: INP
Geared with 10 policemen, two policewomen, two bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials and sniffer dogs, a ‘snap checking squad’ can be on site within a 10-minute notice period. The squads have been established by the city police and will be equipped with equipment to detect explosives.
Similar squads will be on call across the city during Muharram and can be deployed at entry and exit points on the border of Peshawar and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) if necessary, Cantt ASP Muhammad Shoaib told journalists on Friday.
Joint operation
Fifty-four people were arrested in a joint search operation by the police and army in the jurisdiction of Sarband police station on Friday.
The operation kicked off early morning after security forces cordoned off the entire locale. Police carried out a door-to-door search in Sangu, Sarband, and Achini Bala and Achini Payan villages.
The police force was backed by armoured cars and security forces and all routes leading to Khyber Agency were sealed before the operation.
“Around 54 people have been arrested in the operation which was conducted near the border of Khyber Agency. Five of them are proclaimed offenders,” said a Sarband police officer. Six AK-47s, three shot guns and 11 repeaters were also recovered in the raid.
“This search was part of operations being conducted across the city before Muharram and will help establish the writ of the government,” he said. The operation was directly supervised by the Cantt SP.
According to the official, some of the individuals nabbed during the action were interrogated and subsequently released on personal surety given by local elders.
However, those caught with arms and ammunition had been detained and FIRs have been registered against them.
Similar operations have been conducted in Yakatoot, Mattani, Badhaber, Pishtakahra, Regi, Nasirbagh, Faqirabad and Pahripura.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2013.
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