DPOs directed to tighten security for Muharram processions

Peshawar, Kohat & DI Khan declared most sensitive

PESHAWAR: Security has been upgraded for 429 small and big processions and 940 majalis all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Muharram.  

The police chief issued the directives to the officials after taking a detailed briefing on security plan for Muharram at the Central Police Office on Friday. Additional IGPs Headquarters, Special Branch, Operations, Capital City Police Office and all Regional Police Officers and District Police Officers of Kohat and Hangu attended the meeting.

According to an official statement, the DPOs briefed the police chief about the security plan for Muharram in their respective districts with the help of Google maps and charts. The IGP was informed that a total of 429 small and big processions would be taken out while 940 majalis would be held.

Up to 129 troubled spots were identified in the routes of the processions to be taken out from different parts of the province. Peshawar, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan were declared most sensitive districts for Muharram.

The police chief directed the district police officers for live electronic monitoring of all processions for which software has been prepared and installed in all districts. The IGP directed the officers to monitor the processions through android system in districts.

They were directed to make security zones for imambargahs and precessions and adopt three-tier security and frisk all people before letting them in imambargah. The officials were directed to get the route and the venue cleared by a Joint Composite Team (JCT) of all departments concerned.

No edible or cold drinks in the form of nazar and niaz(supplication)  should be allowed to be distributed without strict checking. The police chief said lighting arrangement should be made in and around the venue for majalis.

The IGP categorically made it clear that no new route of processions would be allowed. He directed the participants to instantly register first information report against the violators. The participants were directed to review the security arrangements themselves by visiting the spot and organise snap checking across the districts with special emphasis on motorcycles with fake number plates and without number plates.

They were directed for deployment of police on hill and rooftops in sensitive areas and plugging all streets leading to imambargahs and processions and carrying out routes sweeping of all the precessions.

The officials were directed to carry out checking and check each and every thing and place, make video recording of all mourning procession, strictly discourage provocative speeches and hatred literature. The IGP directed the officials to hold meetings with all other relevant government departments.

They were directed that particulars of all tenants falling in the limits of the mourning processions and in close proximity of route and imambargahs must be checked and verified name of the tenants to be recorded and placed in the police station record.

The police chief made it clear that security arrangements adopted for Muharram would be checked through Special Branch and relevant DPOs would be held responsible for any security lapse. Earlier, the IGP was briefed about the security plan adopted for peaceful observance of Muharram in different districts of the province.

The IGP was informed that Peshawar had 67 imambargahs wherefrom a total of 121 small and big precessions would be taken out on different days of Muharram. Dera Ismail Khan has 66 imambargahs and 174 precessions would be taken out from them.

The DPOs of Kohat and Hangu said that Muharram arrangements would be challenging this time.  However, they added, all possible measures were being taken to make this tough job easier.