Maintaining law & order: Cops deployed in Peshawar for New Year celebrations

PESHAWAR: Heavy contingents of the police were deployed in different parts of the provincial capital on Tuesday as the police chalked out a plan to maintain law and order during the New Year night celebrations on roads and streets.

Thousands of people came out on the University Road, Saddar, Hayatabad and other areas since Tuesday evening to celebrate the advent of the New Year. Heavy police contingents were deployed in these areas to maintain law and order and stop the youth from over-speeding, one wheeling and aerial firing. “Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the New Year night. Around 1000 policemen will be deployed in parts of the city to maintain law and order,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Zahoor Babar Afridi told reporters. The official said anti-riots teams have also been deployed in different parts of Peshawar. “Police patrolling has been increased in Amn Chowk, FC Chowk, GT Road, Dilazak Road, Ring Road, Hayatabad, Saddar and University Road. Besides, more traffic wardens were deployed to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on the busy roads,” said the official. He added that some of the areas were also swept by the sniffer dogs and bomb disposal unit to avoid any untoward incident. A large number of youth come out on roads on the last day of the year and to celebrate the arrival of the New Year on roads, restaurants and markets along with friends and family. Many of them celebrate the event by playing loud music or indulging in a car race on the roads. Police said cops were deployed to stop the youth from car race and over-speeding to avoid road accidents and posing any threat to the lives of pedestrians. Besides, cops were patrolling streets to stop festive firing.