SUKKUR, Oct 15: The regional police officer, Sukkur range, has said police stations and checkpoints being constructed in border areas will start functioning by March next year.

Speaking at a press conference at his office here on Wednesday, RPO Mohammad Ramzan Channa said 12 new police stations and 60 checkpoints would be established.

He said till the new police force took command in the area, services of the Sindh police, Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary would be retained and the decision to send them back would be taken after consultation with the federal government. He said the force would be overseen by high police officials of Sindh.

He said the border force would be independent in its functions and would also be free to move across provincial boundaries for arresting outlaws. He said modern communication system would be inducted to help the force contain outlaws’ activities.

The RPO said the federal government had provided Rs600 million for providing each police station with four trucks, an ambulance, guns and armoured personnel carriers.

He claimed that the crime rate in the area had decreased following the operation against outlaws on Sindh-Balochistan and Sindh-Punjab borders launched by law enforcement agencies.

He said recruitment in the department would be made on merit basis and more than 2,000 trained Jawans would be deployed at the police stations and checkpoints for which the expenses would be borne by the Sindh government.

Mr Channa dispelled the impression chieftains of Balochistan tribes were providing shelter to criminals or interfering in police functions.

The RPO said the investigation had almost been completed and the culprits along with proofs of their involvement in the murder would be produced before journalists.