SWABI, Jan 14: Members of Turlandi jirga on Monday complained of the growing lawlessness in Razaar tehsil and urged law-enforcement agencies to do their duty diligently for the safety of public life and property. The complaint was conveyed to superintendent of police Abdul Rashid by jirga member Mumtaz Khan, Swabi District Bar Association president Arshad Khan and others during a meeting here.

Mr Mumtaz said law and order situation in Razaar tehsil had worsened over the last two months with a sharp increase in kidnappings for ransom, armed robberies and burglaries. He said around 12 families were looted at home during the said period causing a sense of insecurity among the people.

The jirga member said law-enforcement agencies should take tangible steps for controlling crime. Mr Arshad said police had arrested nine people for looting houses and they were being quizzed for a clampdown on crime.

He said better cooperation and coordination between the people and police could help contain criminals.

The SP told visitors that police would dealt criminals with an iron hand and would leave no stone unturned for restoring peace in the district.

He later told reporters that police would continue to be on alert round the clock to meet the security crisis.

“We will not sit in our offices to protect public life and property. Our SHOs and policemen will be in the field for 24 hours to provide security to the people,” he said. He praised slain SHO Zulfiqar Bangash for bravery and said his killers had been traced and would be arrested soon.