Police seek army’s help to locate missing cops

MANSEHRA: The police have sought help from the Pak Army for searching the three missing cops who left their base camp in Basal area following heavy snowfall in the area on Tuesday, an official said.
Talking to reporters here on Friday, District Police Officer (DPO) of Mansehra Najeebur Rehman said that a search operation was launched on October 26 to locate the three policemen.
He said the police had asked the Pak Army to help search the three missing policemen. He said the army soldiers were equipped with equipment that could be used in high altitude areas.
The DPO said that two teams comprising 50 cops and local people being led by two deputy superintendents of police were taking part in the search operation.
“We are also searching the areas that were identified by the injured policeman who was recovered along with the body of his colleague,” said Najeebur Rehman.
He said that five policemen Sher Mohammad and Sajjad Ahmad, both hailing from Mansehra, Mohammad Nasir from Abbottabad, Mohammad Anwar and Shahzad from Battagram left the Bassal police checkpoint following heavy snowfall in Kaghan valley.
The DPO said that Sher Mohammad was found dead while Sajjad was injured while the three cops went missing.
Najeebur Rehman added that the five policemen who were posted at Gattidass Police Station didn’t leave their post and were rescued by a helicopter, but the cops stationed at Bassel police station left in panic.
He said that injured policeman, who was rescued, had showed three landsliding sites that were dig up, but to no avail.
“We are working at different locations with help of the local people,” he said, adding that the 10 feet snow was hampering their efforts.