MINGORA, Dec 8: Inspector General Police Rifat Pasha on Wednesday awarded cash rewards and commendation certificates to police personnel and civilians who bravely resisted criminals during bank robbery in Matta last week.

Speaking at a function at the police lines, the IGP appreciated the role of Swat police and termed the Matta operation a lesson for those having criminal designs. He said if civilians continued to cooperate which police in a similar manner, criminals would not dare continue their activities even in the remote hilly areas.

The IGP also announced reconstruction of the mosque destroyed in a police encounter with outlaws and compensation for civilian victims. Earlier, DIG Malakand range Attaullah Wazir and Swat DPO Syed Akhtar Ali Shah briefed the IGP on the operation.

The gang of robbers had broken into the National Bank branch of Chuprial and looted over Rs2 million, but police took prompt action and killed two of the robbers on the spot and arrested seven others.