PESHAWAR: The incidents of targeted killings have increased by 30.3 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the current year, according to data collected by police.

It said that 129 cases of targeted killings were recorded during the current as compared to 99 incidents of the last year. Similarly, rockets attacks have also increased by 450 per cent as about 22 rockets landed in parts of the province during 2014 as compared to four rocket attacks during the previous year.

However, the details shared by a police spokesman here on Thursday, show that the ratio of crimes has decreased. This year some 401 terrorist incidents took place as compared to 456 incidents of the previous year.

The official data showed that last year 25 suicide attacks took place while this year the number was decreased to eight only. Similarly, explosive-laden blasts also came down to five from seven of the previous year.

The police spokesman claimed that the increase in rocket and targeted killings was noted owing to the tight security measures taken by the police. He said that the baffled terrorists fired rockets as they failed to reach to the settled areas for carrying out sabotage acts.

He said that police successfully repulsed 77 terrorist attacks and arrested 260 terrorists while 77 were killed in encounters. He said that about 626 cases of terrorism were disposed of during the current year.

He said that 70 kidnappers were arrested and 43 of them were awarded punishment by court. Likewise, 78 cases of extortion were disposed of. He said that 145 extortionists were arrested and 109 of them were awarded punishment by the court.

The spokesman said that police had also taken many scientific and operational steps and carried out strikes and search operations besides establishing K-9 unit. Also, he said, police launched registration of the people to reach the suspected elements and control crimes in the province.

EXPLOSIVES: Police claimed to have seized 112 detonators, 12 remote receivers, two batteries, three guns and one wireless set from terrorists near Zangli checkpost o Thursday.

However, the terrorists managed to escape, said an official. He added that terrorists could not succeed to materialise their nefarious designs due to the tight security arrangements in the area.

Meanwhile, IGP Nasir Khan Durrani has ordered transfer and posting of two superintendents of police and one deputy superintendent in the province.

According to a notification, Torghar DPO Iftikharud Din has been transferred on poor performance while acting SP of Abbottabad Abdul Saboor has been posted as new DPO of Torghar.

According to another notification, City DSP Aslam Nawaz Marwat has been suspended on public complaints with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2014