ISLAMABAD, July 25: The capital police have decided to take strict action against the display of arms by land mafia groups operating in Islamabad and would prepare a list of police officers who were on the mafia’s pay role.

A senior police officer told Dawn on Thursday that the police had decided to take strict action against the private force of land mafias who displayed arms in the city, especially in the rural areas.

“The private guards of land grabbers, armed with modern sophisticated weapons, threaten local villagers and obtain their lands forcefully,” the officer said.

Furthermore, he said the private guards also abducted villagers who showed resistance and at a number of occasions, they had ambushed villagers for the vested interests of their employers, leading to injuries and death.

However, a few officers were of the view that the decision against the display of arms was made only to please the minister and no action would be taken since the majority of policemen was on the mafia’s pay role.

“It is an open secret that SHOs of Shahzad Town, Kural, Loi Bher, Sihala and Banigala, the Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) of Shahzad Town and Rural Banigala, and the Superintendent (SP) Rural had been appointed on the recommendations of powerful politicians and land grabbers,” said a police official.

Moreover, officers said the directions to take action against policemen who were on the mafia’s pay role would not be implemented because those responsible to ensure this were themselves appointed on the recommendation of land mafias.

“There is a chance that the police will use these directions to settle their score with their rivals within the force,” a police official said.

However, it seems action has already been taken as Inspector Mehboob Ahmed, Sub-Inspector Muzaffar and Assistant Sub-Inspector Daud Sabir were suspended on Thursday. Furthermore, Deputy Superintendent of Police Arshad Ali Khokhar was served notice and asked to appear before the senior officers.

The inspector, SI and ASI were suspended as they allegedly helped the land mafia occupy plots while working in the Koral police station a year ago. They also misused their powers and victimised villagers by registering fake cases to pressurise the residents into vacating their lands. However, they took no action against the land mafia.

The DSP was served a notice for his failure to keep an eye on his subordinates and their illegal activities.