Ramazan security threats: Additional force of 300 cops deployed in capital

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad Police have deployed an additional 300 officials in the city to counter terrorist threats during Ramazan.

More than 400 personnel have been deployed for securing 720 mosques and 39 imambargahs in the city while duty hours have also been reduced, from 12 to eight hours, in order to increase police efficiency.

A police official told The Express Tribune that search operations in Bhara Kahu, Tarnol, Shahzad Town and Koral have been ongoing for the past two months, adding the department has also established new cells to improve intelligence gathering.

The government has initiated joint patrolling of the Rangers and police in the capital since the launch of the military operation in North Waziristan.

The police have also announced refresher courses for investigation officers with an aim to improve the investigation process and ensure a professional approach while handling cases.

Additional Inspector General (Operations) Sultan Azam Temuri says investigation officers of all police stations will attend the two-day refresher course at Police Lines where senior police officials and lawyers will deliver lectures.

The courses will focus on areas such as registration of FIRs, relevant laws, crime scene inspection, collection and preservation of evidence, connection of circumstantial evidence, preparation of charge sheets, arrests, interrogation at crime scene and physical searches.

Investigation officers will also be briefed about conducting investigation during physical remand, production of accused before court and applying for physical and judicial remand, recovery of weapon of offence, recovery of case property, interrogation of suspects and precautionary measures to be taken at crime scenes.

So far, 24 investigation officers have attended the course.

“We are working in a challenging environment, however, the morale of the force and its commitment is also high at the moment,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Mohammad Ali Nekukara.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2014.