LAHORE: Inspector General of Police Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan has said that his department is increasing the capacity of the force to deal effectively with violent protests and arson sieges so that human lives, public and private properties could be protected during sit-ins and violent demonstrations.

Addressing 200 police officials who completed the first anti-riot short course at the Police Training College, Chung, on Tuesday, he said the School of Public Disorder and Riot Control was set up to enhance the capacity of officers from all over the province.

The first batch also included women police officers and personnel so female protesters could be handled.

He said that in the anti-riots training course, officers and personnel were specially trained to disperse the mob in modern ways, including the use of non-lethal weapons.

The anti-riots force is a unique one according to modern requirements to deal with violent protesters, he said, adding that the police department has declared mandatory modern training refresher courses for the officers and personnel of every rank and unit.

He said that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen, but under the guise of protest public and private property and vandalism cannot be allowed in any case.

Up to 200 officers and personnel from Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi ranges participated in the modern training course and master trainers trained from Turkey trained them.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022