Search operation: City divided in five zones for crackdown

First operation starts today, to be conducted in Gulbahar.

PESHAWAR: The capital city police has divided the city in five zones where a search and strike operation will be conducted in phases starting today (Thursday).

The operation will be jointly carried out by the bomb disposal unit and police while armoured cars and sniffer dogs will be used against elements involved in target killings, kidnapping for ransom and street crimes along with Afghan nationals illegally residing in Pakistan.

All DSPs concerned have been directed to send their progress report to the central police office which will monitor their performance.

The operation will be conducted in five phases. The first, which starts today, will cover Gulbahar, the second will cover City-2 on Friday, the third Faqirabad Circle on Monday, the fourth will be in City-1 Circle on Tuesday while the last will be conducted in Suburb Circle on Wednesday. Special emphasis will be given to checking rented buildings and hotels in the city.

Seven shops damaged

At least seven shops were damaged in a medium-intensity blast in Mattani bazaar on Tuesday night.

Police said unidentified armed men came to the bazaar and took two watchmen hostage at gunpoint. They then planted a five-kilogramme explosive device and detonated it. As a result, seven shops were partially damaged. The blast, which was heard across town, created panic among residents.

A police official speculated the militants wanted to target cosmetics shops.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2014.