December 14, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 15, 1429

MANSEHRA, Dec 13: Hundreds of protesters have demanded of the government to issue arms licences to ordinary people for self defence besides urging launch of police operation to arrest robbers and criminal gangs in Oghi Tehsil. “Government should take extraordinary measures to protect the life and property of the citizens as robbers and proclaimed offenders are all out to commit crimes in the tehsil and deprive hundreds of their valuables and cash on gunpoint,” said one of the speakers during the protest procession taken out in Oghi on Saturday.

To protest the deteriorating law and order situation in Oghi Tehsil, shops and business centres remained closed for about two hours.

Traders and people from various areas took part in the procession and assembled at the chowk bazaar.

Speaking at the procession, Member National Assembly Faiz Mohammad Khan and social workers of Oghi Tehsil; Gul Mohammad Khan and Tahir Khan Swati said that during Eidul Azha, robbers and criminals looted hundreds of passengers, who returned from across the country to observe Eid with their families. They said that many shopkeepers were looted at gunpoint early at dawn on the Eid day.

They demanded of the inspector general of police to launch an operation in the tehsil to apprehend those who were involved in such crimes as gangs of robbers and proclaimed offenders were directly involved in robberies and other crimes.

They also demanded of the district police officer Mansehra to expose such politicians and influential people who were either backing such gangs or were directly part of them. They urged the DPO to ensure increased patrolling in the area to curb crimes.

They said that passenger vehicles were looted near Sussal Gali police checkpost as insufficient number of police was posted there adding; “If police wants to control such activities, it should not only deploy more force, rather it should also be equipped with mobile squad and other basic needs for proper policing.”

They suggested that to control the deteriorating law and order situation in Oghi Tehsil, police patrolling should also be increased and the duration of power outage should also be minimised.

They said that the reconciliation committees should be revitalised in the district and a clear track record should be included in these committees.

They said that if the existing law and order situation did not improve within a couple of weeks, they would be force to close their businesses.