09 October 2004	Saturday	23 Shaban 1425

PESHAWAR, Oct 8: Police have declared 14 places of worship in the city sensitive and deputed force there to keep round-the-clock vigil, official sources told Dawn on Friday.

The city police decided to deploy force, including plainclothes policemen, at 14 mosques, Imambargahs and churches after the Sialkot mosque attack on Thursday, the sources said.

They refused to list the places, but said the force would remain in a state of high alert, especially during the prayer timings. In a related development, police have started collecting information about the activists of extremist organisations.

"In view of recent spate of terrorism, we have decided to keep check on the activities of religious extremists and avert any untoward incident," said a senior police official.

An intelligence agency had recently alerted the NWFP government about a possible suicide attempt by religious extremists in the city and asked them to beef up their security.

Meanwhile, police on Thursday night arrested six artistes who were performing at a wedding function in the Hasan Ghari area. The bridegroom escaped after the arrest of his brother and a cousin. According to sources, Karamat, son of Khanzada, had invited three female dancers and three musicians to entertain guests at his Walima.