Home and Tribal Affairs department discusses measures to curb increase in kidnappings, targeted killings. PHOTO: FILE
Most criminal groups hail from Bara, Khyber Agency, which is a conflict zone, while a majority of the area’s tribesmen are living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), thus making any operations against them a difficult task.
This was stated in a meeting of the Peshawar Divisional Task Force held at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Home and Tribal Affairs department on Monday to discuss intelligence-led targeted operations in all four zones of Peshawar. The meeting, presided by Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, focused on a simultaneous targeted operation to curb targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and extortion activities, stated an official dispatch on Wednesday.
The issue of kidnappings of doctors was also discussed at the meeting and law enforcement officials were taken to task about their failure in arresting the culprits behind the kidnapping of doctors from Hayatabad.
The meeting highlighted weak investigation techniques of the police and other agencies as the main reason behind continued kidnappings and other crimes.
The officials were informed around 50% of the culprits involved in a series of crimes including kidnappings, targeted killings and extortion were Afghan nationals, while a number of these criminals have been arrested and handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
Moreover, the officials were told during the meeting that most of the criminal gangs had hideouts at various places inside and on the outskirts of Peshawar, especially in Achini Bala and Sarband, which fall between the tribal areas and Peshawar.
The political administration of Khyber Agency, during the meeting, assured the Peshawar police of its cooperation in carrying out targeted operations in these areas to curb rising militancy.
It was also discussed that the divisional administration of Peshawar should hold a meeting of all stakeholders to boost coordinated efforts to stop kidnapping for ransom incidents along with extortion and targeted killings.
Officials further decided Peshawar police should improve its investigation skills in all police stations to nab the main culprits and ring leaders of the groups involved in criminal activities. At the same time, police officials were directed to closely coordinate with intelligence agencies to carry out targeted operations that yield substantial results.
Intelligence agencies were further directed to provide timely information to law enforcement agencies to take action on accurate information.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2013.
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