MUZAFFARGARH: Threats to police officials, who killed a suspected militant at Chowk Permit earlier this week, have alerted the department regarding security of its officials.

Talking to reporters on Friday, Sub-Inspector Ghulam Yaseen claimed he and his family had been threatened by militants and he had informed his high-ups about it. Yaseen and eight other cops had participated in an alleged encounter with an arrested suspect Saim and his accomplices after they managed to get him freed from police custody at Chowk Permit, Alipur tehsil. Saim had been arrested during a search operation in Green City, Alipur tehsil and two hand grenades recovered from him.

Last week, two other militants had been arrested in Alipur and police had recovered eight suicide vests and nine hand grenades from them.

Taking notice of threats, District Police Officer (DPO) Rai Zameerul Haq increased security at residences of police officials and hospitals where two injured cops were being treated. The DPO also ordered the police to beef up security across the city and other parts of the district, particularly around mosques during Taraveeh prayers.

Talking to Dawn, DPO Haq said he had ordered to increase security at the riverine checkpost of the Indus and Chenab rivers as hardcore militants and criminals wanted in heinous crimes were hiding around these areas.

Militants were moving to southern Punjab during the military operation in North Waziristan, a police officer claimed.

The DPO claimed two more militants had been arrested at Jatoi Hussaini Chowk tehsil on Thursday night during an operation. Soon an operation would be launched in Muzaffargarh tehsil also, he added.

PRICES: Shopkeepers were taken into custody and heavy fines imposed on them on Friday when the district administration raided open markets.

Talking to Dawn, Additional Deputy Collector Zulqarnain Khichi said along with Assistant Commissioner Sajjad Husnain he paid a surprise visit to some markets where shopkeepers were allegedly looting customers, had not displayed price lists and were selling food items at high rates.

Khichi said when the administration was busy with Ramazan bazaars, shopkeepers in the open market were looting people. He fined them Rs37,600 and had them arrested.

District Coordination Officer Hafiz Shaukat Ali said he would also pay surprise visits to different parts of the district and had managed to compose a special team that would check markets.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2014