RAWALPINDI: After threats to educational institutions, guards and watchmen of different schools, colleges and universities are being trained by Elite Force Commandos at Police Lines Rawalpindi.

The sessions started on Monday and will include weapon handling and how to counter a terrorist attack. In the session on Monday, 53 guards were trained while 62 guards were trained on Tuesday. Wednesday’s session will include 110 guards.

Superintended of Police (SP) Headquarters Ameer Abdullah Niazi told Dawn all the guards and watchmen were required to complete the three-day training programme at Police Lines before they are sent to educational institutions.

They will be trained to handle weapons including a shot-gun and a 44-bore rifle, though they will not be allowed to use the AK-47, Mr Niazi said.

After they have been trained, the guards will be sent to educational institutions where some will be deployed on the roofs, others in the school itself and then some at the entrance.

“Though we don’t know if five security personnel at each school will be enough to counter terrorism, they can help in engaging attackers,” the SP said.

He added that the provincial government has been requested to allow the security guards deployed on the roofs of school buildings to keep an AK-47.

The SP explained that there are more than 4,000 government and private educational institutions in Rawalpindi and that the guards of all of these will be required to be trained.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2016