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Peshawar police set up 20 checkposts to avert TTP attacks

* Cantt SP says police will check vehicles, persons entering and leaving city
* Says police collecting record from property dealers about people renting houses

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: The city police has set up at least 20 checkposts in the provincial capital after threats by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out “bomb attacks across the country”, police officials said on Thursday.

The TTP had issued numerous threats to carry out attacks in the country if the government did not halt the security forces’ operation in Swat valley.

Cantonment Circle Superintendent of Police Abdul Qadir told reporters that security had been beefed up in the city and police officials were checking vehicles and persons entering the city.

Entry, exit: “Police would check vehicles entering and leaving the city. Nine police personnel would be deputed at each checkpost and they would be equipped with bullet-proof jackets, teargas guns, metal detectors, armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and weaponry,” Qadir said.

The official said female commuters would be checked to ensure that would–be suicide bombers do not use them as a shield.

Police have set up a specials cell to control organised crime including incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

Qadir said that in a recent meeting police and political authorities agreed to hold a joint operation against criminals in the tribal and settled areas.

“Criminals are exploiting the situation and acting in the guise of Taliban. Kidnapping for ransom has assumed the form of a business. The criminals are hiding in Balamani, Hazarkhani and Kohat Road areas,” he said.

Property dealers: The official added that property dealers were playing a role in providing lodgings to suspected persons. The dealers had been asked to submit weekly reports to local police about the people who rented houses, he said, noting that a data collection drive had been launched in Hayatabad Township and University Town.

Meanwhile, police arrested a suspected woman drug smuggler, Yasmeen from Gujrat, and Aamir Ameen of Naway Kely, Peshawar and seized 400 kilogrammes of hashish from their possession. The suspects were coming to Peshawar from the Khyber Agency when the police held them in the Sarband Police Station jurisdiction.

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