KOHAT: District police officer Wahid Mehmood has said five companies of the army and 15 platoons each of the Frontier Constabulary and the Elite Force have been called for protection of imambargahs and mourners’ processions in Kohat region.

He announced this while addressing a jirga of elders of Shia and Sunni communities at the central command post here on Sunday night.

He said the army and anti-riot police force had been placed on the standby to act in case of any untoward incident, whereas 3,000 policemen would remain deployed for security of processions and imambargahs.

The DPO said 19, 16 and 12 meters inner, outer and outermost cordons had been set up for safety of three imambargahs in the city and five in Muhammadzai area. The police officer said the officials of SNGPL, PTCL, Pesco and army would remain present round the clock at the command post to deal with any emergency.

Meanwhile, state minister for Safron and anti-narcotics Sheharyar Afridi has said the role of ulema and elders from both the Shia and Sunni communities was vital in maintaining peace during Muharram in the Kohat division.

Talking to mediapersons on Monday, he stressed the need of comprehensive coordination of police with the intelligence and law enforcement agencies for combating terrorism and other crimes.

Earlier, during a visit to the command post established for the security of imambargahs and mourners’ processions during Muharram, he said the unrest in Afghanistan and India-held Kashmir had made the security in the region unstable and fragile which required extraordinary measures to ensure peace.

He was briefed about the security arrangements in the whole division by DIG Kohat region Tayyab Hafeez Cheema. He advised the people to strengthen the hands of the administration for maintaining peace, especially during the first 10 days of Muharram.

Meanwhile, the police arranged a workshop for the volunteers for training them how to perform their duties during the holy month.

DSP Sanobar Khan trained them at the police lines.

ARMS SMUGGLING BIDS FOILED: Police recovered five pistols, 10 chargers and thousands of cartridges from a man named Mohammad Hanif, travelling in a passenger coach bound for Dera Ghazi Khan at the toll plaza of Kohat Friendship tunnel.

He admitted to trying to smuggle the weapons to his native Dera Ghazi Khan from Darra Adamkhel.

Meanwhile, Ustarzai police stopped a vehicle coming from Orakzai tribal district at Marai checkpost, and recovered two kilogrammes of hashish from Sufaid Ali, who along with vehicle’s driver, Atif Ali, were booked. Both belonged to Orakzai.

RAILWAYS LAND RETRIEVED: Illegal constructions on the railways land along the Hangu Road were demolished during an anti-encroachment operation supervised by special magistrate Ms Quratul Ain Wazir on Monday.

Heavy machinery was used to demolish the warehouses and shops which had been constructed 25 years ago.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2019