ATTOCK, Aug 19: Instead of strengthening security to check entry of terror elements into Punjab from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rangers deployed in this border district of the Punjab are being withdrawn, it has been learnt.

Sources told this correspondent that a day back 15 of the 30 Rangers personnel deployed at the Attock-Khurd checkpost were withdrawn without the consent of district police.

It may be noted that about three years back a Rangers’ company comprising about 120 personnel, led by a lieutenant colonel, had been deployed at five places in Attock - Attock Khurd bridge on G.T. Road, old Indus River bridge, Khushalgarh bridge on Kohat-Pindi road, Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Complex and the under-construction Islamabad International Airport near Fatehjang.

The main objective behind the Rangers’ deployment was to check entry of terror elements into the Punjab from the KP province via this bordering district as the police were not fully trained to monitor the 87-km-long border from Ghourghusti to Khushalgarh Bridge. Keeping in view the security situation, the district administration was seeking more Rangers force for deployment here. But the sources said the central police office had sought consent of the Attock district police for the reduction of the Rangers officials in order to deploy them for the security of prisons as the Rangers authorities were not ready to provide additional force for the security of the jails. However, the district police headquarters strongly resisted the move and did not give its consent for the curtailment of the Rangers officials due to serious terrorism threats. But the sources said the withdrawal of Rangers had begun from the Attock-Khurd post.

It may be noted that the district police have no trained personnel and also lack sophisticated weapons and equipment to pre-empt and combat any terrorism activity.

Besides having bordered with the KP province, Attock also has sensitive defence installations and projects of national importance. But the concerned government quarters despite repeated demands of the district police and occurrence of high-profile terrorism incidents during the last four years have failed to equip the police to handle any terrorism act.

The district of Attock has been under “high terrorism threat” since occurrence of terrorism incidents at Kamra Cantonment, attack on PAF base Minhas in Kamra in Aug last year and blowing up of CD/video shops by Tehrik-i-Taliban following the kidnapping of a Polish engineer who was later executed.

Militants also attacked four Nato supply trucks in the past.

Moreover, a large number of Afghan nationals living in the district also pose security threats.

When contacted, district police officer (DPO) Abdul Kadir Qamar confirmed the reduction of Rangers and expressed his concerns over the move. He said the district police had already been under pressure in handling terrorism threats. “The assistance of Rangers was very helpful for the police and we were also expecting provision of other security resources and force for anti-terrorism activities,” he said. The DPO also said he had opposed the withdrawal of the Rangers, adding, however, that the decision about the Rangers deployment/withdrawal did not come under the purview of the district police.

He said with the withdrawal of the Nato forces from Afghanistan in 2014, security concerns would further escalates in the region.