MANSEHRA: The police on Tuesday asked owners of granite and other minerals mines in Oghi and Darband tehsils here to follow standard operating procedures notified for the industry.

“You should follow SOPs to avoid any law and order issues, as locals have approached the police complaining about violation of their rights,” deputy superintendent of police Waheed Khan Swati told the mine owners during a meeting in his office in Oghi.

He said mining companies operating in the area should avoid overloading their vehicles, which had led to fatal accidents in the past, causing locals to protest.

“Trucks and lorries loaded with granite and other minerals heading to other parts of the country should avoid overloading and follow the schedule issued by the police for travel on the Oghi-Mansehra Road, Karakoram Highway and Hazara Expressway to prevent traffic disruption,” he said.

Mr Swati urged miners to inform the police and mineral department about illegal mining activities in their respective areas.

“Residents have complained to us that due to blasting, the water table has gone down, while the roads have been damaged by the transportation of large rocks,” Mr. Swati added.

On the occasion, mine owners Aftab Khan Jadoon, Mohammad Siddique, Imdad Shah, Saddam Shah Gillani, Raja Shiraz, Hakim Sameer, Seth Anwar Zeb, and Hanif Khan shared concerns with Mr Swati.

WOMAN SP ASSUMES CHARGE: Rashim Jehangir on Tuesday assumed the charge as the first woman superintendent of police in the Balakot police division and urged women to file FIRs against injustices meted out to them.

“Police culture should be changed so that women approach police without hesitation about injustices against them,” Ms Jehangir told women constables and sub-inspectors during a meeting in Balakot here.

It is the first meeting of its kind in the history of the Balakot police.

“Eradication of violence and other crimes against women will happen only after we change the current police culture,” she said. Ms Jehangir said the police were there to serve women and provide them with security.

“We’re going to establish separate counters for women complainants to ensure they feel safe and privileged,” she said.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2024