01 October 2004	Friday	15 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 30: Outraged residents of Ali Mohammad Mohalla (UC-6), Lyari Town, have strongly condemned police for subjecting them to excesses and harassment on the pretext of the ongoing search for criminals.

They said on Thursday that the police had been conducting raids in their locality quite frequently over months together only to terrorize people and create panic in the area. "Innocent people are accused of being involved in crime or harbouring criminals and subjected to beating and thrashing," most of the affected people complained.

They said that in most cases, not only the raids appeared unlawful but the attitude of the policemen involved could not be regarded as justified by any legal or ethical terms.

In this context, they pointed out that police teams often stormed any house of their choice in the name of 'raid' without having a valid search warrant. They claimed that the policemen never showed any respect to womenfolk and elderly people already shocked and terrified by the manner in which the raid on their house were conducted.

They revealed that a similar situation developed on Wednesday when police, apparently searching for a wanted offender, conducted a series of raids in the locality. Among the houses raided were of many innocent and respectable people, including a government servant.

They said houses of many innocent people including a government servant were raided. Police not only showed disrespect womenfolk but also manhandled some of them. They even did not spare children while using force without any justification, they claimed, adding that the women, raising hue and cry, had to come out of their houses to rescue their children from the highhandedness of the policemen.

One of the affected residents said that a communication had been sent to higher authorities to draw their attention to the reign of terror let loose on the residents of Ali Mohammad Mohalla.

Elders of the area held senior police officials responsible for the situation saying that the local police had been taking full advantage of their seniors' negative approach to the problem of growing crime in the whole area.

They observed that crime was on the rise instead of showing a decline due to the handling of the affairs by police. They pointed out that incidents of shooting, looting, theft, dacoities, robberies, etc., had become order of the day ever since the police launched the operation. They maintained that there appeared to be no improvement despite repeated protests by the area people.

The angry residents claimed that instead of arresting culprits, the police always victimize law-abiding citizens. Activists, representing various NGOs operating in the area, also condemned police action, particularly the operation conducted on Wednesday in the locality. They demanded immediate suspension of the police personnel involved in it.

They urged the relevant authorities to take effective measures to ensure safety and security of people and protection to their respect and properties.Some of them suggested that a Rangers post be set up on permanent basis to check the movement of anti-social elements in the area. They maintained that such elements had become a constant threat to peace.