LANDI KOTAL: Body search of women at various checkposts in Bara was stopped after elders of Bar Qambarkhel announced their collective responsibility to curb smuggling of narcotics in their area.

Sources told Dawn that a representative jirga of Bar Qambarkhel elders met the security officials in Bara and assured them of their cooperation in controlling illegal trade and smuggling in their area.

The elders had earlier expressed reservations about extensive body search of local women by lady searchers at a number of checkposts in Bara while mobility of local residents had increased with the repatriation of over 80,000 families to the region during last one year.

Security forces had apprehended that some suspected burqa-clad women were not only involved in drugs smuggling, but also suspected of carrying suicide jackets and other ammunition used in terrorist activities.

Sources said that security officials assured the Bar Qambarkhel elders that body search of local women would be stopped provided the local tribes take collective responsibility of keeping vigil on movement of suspected people, including women.

The elders were, however, told that the forces would reserve the right to conduct snap checking if they were informed about movement of any suspects in any part of Bara.

After their meeting with the security officials, the elders announced to impose a fine of Rs2 million and torch the house of those found involved in anti-state or illegal activities. They also decided that same penalties would apply to non-locals who would be kept in custody till they furnish sureties about good conduct.

Later, the Bar Qambarkhel elders also held a meeting with the elders of Malakdinkhel elders and persuaded them to impose similar restrictions in their areas.

It was learnt that women were exempted from body search at three security checkposts in Takhta Bag, Salim checkpost near Levies centre and Sam Ghakhi. Officials said that the conditional relaxation could be extended to all checkposts in Bara.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016