KARACHI: While preparing new measures for security of educational institutions, police on Thursday proposed a ‘safe schools project’ involving several institutions.
Karachi-South DIG Dr Jamil Ahmed speaking at press conference at the Central Police Office said that the proposed security measures included building a boundary wall eight to 10 feet high with a barbed wire fence for each institute and constructing watchtowers along the boundary wall.
Installation of closed-circuit television cameras, and an alarm system for communication between the institution and area police and installation of walk-through gates at all entry points. Furthermore, it was also recommended that telephone numbers of area DSPs and SHOs be maintained and updated regularly.
The police also proposed creating awareness among the teaching staff and school administration of emerging threats and conducting mock security drills for staff and students through the Special Security Unit/Rapid Response Force.
It was also recommended that a committee of the education department, home department and police be constituted to devise the ‘safe schools project’ encompassing all aspects of security of educational institutes, said Dr Jamil.
It was stated that there were 33,549 educational institutes in the province, including 4,978 in Karachi, both in the private and public sectors. Of them, 107 educational institutes had been declared ‘sensitive’ where, the police claimed, proper security had been provided.
On the occasion, the DIG also talked about the performance of the Counter-Terrorism Department in the current year. It was stated that the CTD had carried out 63 ‘encounters’ in which 42 gangs were busted while 10 suspected terrorists and 20 other alleged criminals were killed. The police’s special unit also arrested 298 suspects.
‘Absconding hitman’ arrested
Meanwhile, the CTD on Thursday claimed to have arrested an absconding ‘hitman’ in the Korangi Crossing area.
Suspect Mohammed Tanveer, alias Jumbo, had fled from an antiterrorism court last year.
He was wanted in 11 cases, including that of targeted killing, said a senior police officer.
Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016
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