RAWALPINDI, Jan 10: Secu-rity measures were tightened across the Rawalpindi region on Thursday following the devastating suicide bombing in Lahore on the eve of the holy month of Muharram.

Army has been called in to reinforce the Rangers and police in Rawalpindi city where nearly 2,000 Majalis are held and 450 processions are taken out during the month of mourning.

“We will be taking no chances with security during the month of Muharram,” District Coordination Officer (DCO) Irfan Elahi told Dawn.

Four companies of Rangers already present in the city would start patrolling from Saturday and army units would take positions on Monday, according to the official.

Some 85 Majalis and Muharram processions in the city have been declared “sensitive”, meaning they need extra vigilance. Walk-through gates would screen the people going into the Majalis and police commandos on rooftops would keep a watch on the processions.

A control room at the Civil Defence office would monitor the overall situation.

Our Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Unlike Rawalpindi, no extra manpower has been called in Islamabad as the large contingents of Frontier Constabulary and Rangers deployed in January 2007 to assist the city police are still in position.

Even otherwise, the federal capital is largely free of sectarian tensions. Security has been enhanced on the Constitution Avenue, all government buildings, installations of law enforcement, and intelligence agencies, judicial buildings, Diplomatic Enclave, worship places.

Deployment of security personnel has been increased at the Supreme Court, Election Commission, District and Session Courts, police headquarters and police stations.

Special squad of law enforcers, including snipers are deployed on the rooftops of nearby buildings of the sensitive places and installations.

Dozens of bunkers have also been reactivated in and around the city and sensitive places. The city police have also set up checkposts in and around the city and started search of hotels, inns and bus stands.

Police mobile units have increased patrolling and checking of suspicious persons and vehicles in the federal capital. Policemen in uniform and in plain clothes have been deployed at 72 entry and exit points of the capital, including 32 sensitive points with the instruction to search every person and vehicle and keep an eye on anti-social elements and suspicious persons.

Likewise, all state-run hospitals, firebrigade, civil defence and other rescue services and department have been put on high alert.

TAXILA: Meanwhile, security has been put on high alert in Taxila, Wah Cantonment, Hassanabdal and Chakwal in view of Thursday’s bomb attack on police in Lahore, reports our correspondent Amjad Iqbal.

Sources in the Taxila police department told Dawn that the Punjab government had put law enforcement agencies on ‘red alert’.

Policemen have been told to remain vigilant and advised to increase patrolling in their areas. They have reportedly been asked not to assemble at public places in groups unless it was very necessary.

All police personnel, including those belonging to operations and investigation wings, traffic wardens and highway patrolling officials have been directed to beef up their security.

Sources said law enforcement personnel in plain clothes had been deployed at airports, railway stations, bus stands, congested roads, shopping centres and entertainment places.

PPI ADDS: Under the security plan issued for Muharram by District Police Officer Chakwal Sardar Maqsood Khan, all police officers would be on high alert till Muharram 10.

According to the order, Elite Force, Panther Squad and commandos would be deployed at sensitive places while police officials in plainclothes would mingle with the people in Muharram procession to watch for suspects.

Peace committees at police stations would also be mobilised and SHOs were directed to keep close contact with union nazims and counsellors.

The administration also asked people to remain on a look out for suspects and other suspicious items, and immediately inform the nearest police station.