Foolproof measures: Sensitive areas in DI Khan put under high security

Police and Elite Force personnel conducted a search operation on outskirts of the city, about 230 houses were searched

HANGU/ DI KHAN:

Stringent measures have been taken to beef up security in DI Khan as part of the red alert announced across the country in the wake of the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar.

According to a statement issued by DI Khan DPO’s office on Tuesday, sensitive areas of the city have been placed under high security. “Central Prison DI Khan and DI Khan Police Lines are among the places that have been put under tight security,” the statement said.

Moreover, police and Elite Force personnel conducted a search operation on the outskirts of the city. The statement added that about 230 houses were searched.

Around 16 suspected persons were arrested in the door-to-door search operation. Cases were registered against four property owners who allegedly rented their houses without notifying the nearest police station.

Security forces and the jail administration have also conducted a search operation inside the jail’s premises, the statement said. The operation was led by DI Khan’s jail superintendent. All jail barracks and residential quarters were searched.

According to the statement, the district government and security forces have joined hands to give final shape to security arrangements to avert any further attacks on the jail.

At present, there are four inmates on death row at Central Prison DI Khan. However, they are not being held on terrorism charges. They have been identified as Rashid Mahmood, Zubair Ahmad, Akhlas Ahmad and Ghullam Sarwar. Following the DI Khan jail break in July 2013, a large number of prisoners held on terrorism charges either escaped or were shifted to other facilities.

Jail security

A representative of the additional and sessions judge, SHO Khanullah Wazir and Hangu ASDPO Mohsin Shah visited Hangu Judicial Jail on Tuesday to review the security arrangements at the facility. They directed the jail administration to tighten security and depute more police officials to guard the premises. Furthermore, the judge’s representative urged jail authorities to prohibit inmates from using mobile phones. He warned action would be taken against the jail administration if any inmate was found using a mobile phone.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2014.