DERA GHAZI KHAN, Aug 17: The Rangers’ deployment in the tribal areas of Dera Ghazi khan and Rajanpur is reportedly creating social and administrative problems.

The tribal areas presently fall under the jurisdiction of the Border Military Police as far as the maintenance of law and order is concerned, while a political assistant heads civil administration as well as the BMP.

Sources said the Rangers contingent had been deployed in the areas adjacent to Balochistan border to check the Baloch insurgents allegedly sneaking into Punjab.

In Rajanpur district, the Rangers have set up various check points, some of these located near the BMP-manned police stations, specially close to the Balochistan border

About a month back, the sources said, a Rangers party came to Dera Ghazi Khan from Rajanpur and raided the house of Gorchani tribe chief Perwaiz Gorchani. The sources said the Rangers suspected that Gorchani chief was helping some of the most-wanted `criminals’ and Baloch insurgents, allegedly using his influence on the BMP. The Rangers picked up Pervaiz Gorchani from his residence even without involving the local police in the operation, which created a lot of resentment among his tribesmen, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the sources said the Rangers’ deployment at Rakhi Gaaj on Dera-Quetta road near the BMP checkpoint in the tribal area was also creating problems for the common people. The Rangers, they said, frequently violate norms of Baloch culture while conducting security checks.

The sources said that an elderly man who was head of his clan was asked during a security check to take off the heavy turban he was wearing as a symbol of pride and honour. His turban was torn into three pieces, and the in charge of the check point told the elderly man not to wear such huge turban. Later, the man was given back only one piece of the turban, while the remaining cloth was given to two other persons to humiliate the clan head, they said.

Political Assistant Naeemullah Bhatti, who is also the BMP commandant in the tribal area, refusing to comment on the prevailing situation, admitted the Rangers’ deployment was creating problems. He maintained that the district coordination officer had talked to the officer in charge of the Rangers deployed at Rakhi Gaaj to help keep the process of security check within the limits of local norms. He also apprehended that Rangers’ attitude might create law and order situation in the area.

It is worth mentioning that as many as nine check points manned by the BMP and Punjab Patrolling Police are functioning on Dera-Quetta road leading to Balochistan border.

A BMP officer, requesting anonymity, said any clash between Rangers and local police might result in anarchy in the area.