MANSEHRA, Jan 4: District Nazim Mansehra, Azam Khan Swati, has assured the tribal elders that a Kala Dhaka uplift programme would be launched if the people of the area agreed to come under the laws of the settled areas, a handout issued on Friday said.

A 10-member delegation of Kala Dhaka elders met the Mansehra Nazim and dilated upon the problems and difficulties they were facing after the local bodies system was put in place in the district, the handout said.

An administrative vacuum has been created and no government work is being carried out in consequence, the elders’ delegation claimed.

In the old system, the DC of the district was their political agent who was supposed to run the affairs of the area but now the area was running without any administrative setup, they said.

The law and order situation had assumed alarming proportions and cutting of the forests in the area was at its peak. No developmental work was under way in the area, the elders said, adding the work on ongoing schemes had also stalled.

The district Nazim assured the elders that all of their problems and difficulties would be solved but the people of the area must also play their due role for their own benefit.

He said: “If you want to get the facilities like those enjoyed by the developed areas of the district, you should come forward to declare this area as settled one.”

law and order PLAN: The SSP, Mansehra, unveiled a plan to restore law and order in the district here on Thursday, and hinted at launching a massive operation against outlaws/proclaimed offenders, soon.

The SSP, Ahsan Mehboob, who has just assumed charge as chief of the district police, lamenting over the unsatisfactory law and order situation he said that soon the people of the district will see a definite change in the situation.

He said that the real meaning of the local bodies system was people’s empowerment and that the local bodies members will be part of the peace committees to be constituted at the union council level.

He said that due to shortage of police force in the district the ratio of the crime was high, but in a month’s time more than 100 men will be recruited for the district police.

The SSP said that around 150 proclaimed offenders, registered with the district police, and were hiding in the mountains of the Dana and Darband, the jurisdiction of the Pulra police station, were responsible for the unrest in the district.

He added they were involved in looting, killing and cases of abduction, but soon, with the cooperation of the IGP, a big operation will be launched against them.

He also sent out a message to the offenders saying: “Most of the criminals preferred to be POs just because of the bad attitude of the police, and denial of justice to them. But I assure them that they surrender to the district police, they will be provided justice and their full rights.”

He said that the patrolling and information system of the district police have been improved and their deployment at important public places have also been increased.

The SSP said that 11 police stations of the district have been further divided in to over 30 beats, and the in charge of every beat will be held responsible for the good or bad performance of his subordinates.

He said that the detective system, which has been ignored in the past, has now been upgraded and all possible assistance was being provided to get maximum advantages from the system.

He said an ASP, Muneer Marat, will lead the training and investigation departments.

He also felt that the NGOs could play an important role in eradicating crime and the use of narcotics, and said that a committee was being formed, which will comprise representatives of the NGO and local bodies, parents, lawyers and other organizations for the purpose.