February 27, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 25, 1423

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MULTAN, Feb 26: The Punjab police have identified about 450 points throughout the province to set up ‘patrol posts’ to curb rising incidents of dacoities and burglaries.

This was stated by Inspector-General of Punjab Police Syed Masood Shah here on Wednesday at a press conference.

The IGP said it was observed that dacoities and burglaries in the cities and on highways were the increasing. Around 10,000 more personnel would be recruited in police to post them at patrol posts while building of each of the post would require Rs1.8 million.

Elaborating the plan, IGP Shah said the posts would be set up mainly on exit and entry points of the cities and busy intersections on highways.

Besides, he said some 9,000 personnel would be employed for the police investigation cell and 5,000 for traffic police. For an integrated policing both the wings of watch and ward and investigation would be set up under one roof at the police stations, though each would work separately under its respective command.

Admitting that the crime rate had been increasing to an alarming extent, he said it was a global phenomenon and linked this trend to population increase and subsequent economic woes of the people.

“The inefficient law enforcers may also have some role in the rise of crime rate,” he added.

He said he had directed that FIRs should be registered without any delay and that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.

He said action would be taken for failure in taking prompt action against the criminals.

He said he was against the ‘staged encounters” and had made it clear that no such thing would be tolerated.