Four BDS teams to keep explosions at bay in Peshawar

Six policemen suspended following public complaints; registration of FIRs ordered.

PESHAWAR:

In light of the recommendations put forward in a meeting of the Peshawar divisional task force recently, the bomb disposal squad (BDS) has been asked to deploy at least four teams in the provincial capital and two each in every district of the province.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior police official said the BDS will work under the supervision of the AIG of Special Branch (SB) and will be headed by the BDS AIG.

The official said that as part of the supervision, the AIG SB will ensure scanning of the residences, vehicles, routes and venues frequented by VVIPs and VIPs along with the buildings around the provincial assembly.

BDS teams in the districts will be placed under the operational command of the district head of police who will be responsible for their deployment and routine matters, the official added.

These new guidelines have been issued by IGP Nasir Khan Durrani after a recent increase in bomb, grenade and suicide attacks, said the official, adding the BDS is an important component in the war on terror.

Meanwhile, the district government has tightened security around the posh area of Hayatabad after a recent surge in kidnappings for ransom by deploying police officials with khasadars at locations next to the tribal areas.

The decision was taken during a weekly meeting on Wednesday chaired by Commissioner Munir Azam.



Azam issued orders to enhance security by increasing police patrolling units across the district and also directed the establishment of a separate control room. Moreover, he ordered that elite force officials be deployed for patrolling in and around Hayatabad along with khasadars, who would be provided by the political administration of Khyber Agency.

The commissioner also directed police officials to crackdown on unregistered vehicles and Afghan mobile SIMs.

Moreover, the commissioner hinted at establishing welfare committees for enhancing security measures in certain communities. It was decided that the committees would collect information on all residents within a specific community and would then share it with the relevant police station from where the list would be forwarded to the district administration.

The commissioner was also briefed on the current security situation in all zones of Peshawar, especially on the city’s outskirts which are said to be the originating points for militants and criminals. Deputy Commissioner Syed Zahirul Islam informed the commissioner of security measures taken for the upcoming chehlum processions.

Shown the door

IGP Nasir Khan Durrani has suspended six policemen, including a DSP, over public complaints and ordered registration of FIRs against them.

According to details, a woman had filed an application against an ASI and DSP of the Chamkani Police Station for keeping her husband in a lockup and demanding bribes for his release. After the woman’s complaint, a high-level inquiry was held which found both officers guilty.

Similarly, an inspector of Risalpur police was suspended for refusing to register and FIR over a girl’s kidnapping. Another sub-inspector of Bannu police was suspended for his alleged involvement in the trade of non-customs paid vehicles.

The police refused to share details of the remaining two police officials who have been suspended for dereliction of duty and also declined to divulge names of the suspended officials.

In a handout issued by the provincial police, it was stated that inquiries had proven that the suspended policemen were guilty of crimes which was why action was taken against them, including registration of FIRs.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.