PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani has directed the police officers to prepare themselves for any eventuality and make full-fledged contingency plan to avert any untoward incident keeping in view a possible reaction of the North Waziristan military operation in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The police chief termed the ongoing operation essential for survival of the country and directed the participants to identify the hub of militants and vulnerable places in their districts and launch intelligence-based action.

“The tempo of the ongoing search and strike operation must be reflected in the police action against terrorists in settled areas,” said the IGP while presiding over a meeting of all district police officers (DPOs) at the central police office here on Monday.

Additional IGPs operations, special branch and FRP, CCPO and DIGs operation and headquarters attended the meeting. The DPOs presented a detailed briefing about the law and order and possible reaction of the militants in their respective districts on this occasion.

“We have no other option, but to win this war at all costs,” said the IGP and directed the officers to coordinate with the rapid response force in their districts and do mock exercise of their action against terrorists by personally leading it. The DPOs were asked to take steps under the recently-passed Tenant Verification and Hotel Security Restriction Act 2014.

Mr Durrani directed the participants to adopt foolproof security measures for busy public places like markets, bus stands, cinemas and banks. He asked them to ensure checking of all vehicles, particularly motorcycles, through vehicle verification system and properly interrogate the arrested persons.

He said that any police checkpost must ensure an effective deterrence against militants and safety of the posted officials. He asked the DPOs to visit these checkposts regularly.

The IGP directed the district police officers to personally become complainant in cases of extortion and militancy and ensure 100 per cent conviction in such cases. They were further asked to do geo-tagging of the occurrences, prepare list of ghost employees and adopt professional approach by securing crime scene.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2014