RAWALPINDI: The Punjab police have been issued guidelines for increasing security measures ahead of Ramazan and have been directed to be prepared to prevent and handle all sorts of incidents.

The guideline calls for coordinating with various stakeholders including intelligence agencies and other law enforcement agencies. It suggests that the backgrounds of volunteers and private security guards be checked by the Special Branch and to give them training in the district police lines.

It says they should be educated in handling weapons, conducting physical searches and reacting to emergency situations.

The police have been directed to install CCTV cameras at specified locations with a backup record, to place walkthrough gates at the main entry points of places of worship, and that proper arrangements for search lights in and around these places of worship be ensured.

The guideline suggests ensuring three tiers of security arrangements by using razor wire barriers at worship places during Friday prayers and taraveeh congregations and to regulate worshippers so they leave in small groups.

Senior police officers have been assigned to conduct a regular checking of security arrangements.

It calls for putting in place special security arrangements for Ramazan bazaars in coordination with the district administration. All regional police officers or district police officers should visit at least one Ramazan bazaar a day and submit a report to the Central Police Office Lahore.

Women constables are to be deployed where necessary and special attention is to be given to the prices of commodities. Any increase in prices should be reported to the coordinators.

The police have been directed to implement the Shop and Establishment Act, 1999 in order to conduct checks and to implement the ban on the display of arms and aerial firing.

The police are to raise awareness among the public to remain vigilant and to immediately inform the police via Rescue 15 when they come across any unclaimed bags, parcels and packets. Drivers and conductors of public transport are to be instructed to check luggage and search passengers boarding the vehicles.

Intelligence agencies have informed police across the province and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration that terror groups are planning to destabilise peace during Ramazan by targeting important government installations and places of worship.

District police across the province will chalk out separate security plans for the month of Ramazan in light of the guidelines issued by provincial authorities.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2018