MARDAN, Feb 11: Police on Saturday sought cooperation of people in its efforts to curb rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the district.

Speaking at an open kutchery at the Mardan town hall, DIG Ghulam Mohammad said that it was impossible for the police to control the crime without people’s cooperation.

Elected representatives, leaders of trade unions, political and student organisations, women councillors, residents of Mardan and Takhtbai tehsil, Wapda officials and lawyers attended the meeting.

Mardan District Nazim Himayatullah Mayar presided over the meeting.

The DIG said that police would organise more programmes to seek people’s suggestions for combating crimes in the area.

Participants criticised incidents of crime in the Mardan city, saying the future of their children was at stake owing to the worst law and order situation.

Takhtbai Tehsil Bar Association president Qamar Zaman Khan said the only way to combat crimes in the district was to create a liaison between people and police.

He said that Takhtbai was situated on the boundary of Malakand agency and many hostage-takers were operating from their hideouts in the area for swapping the kidnap victims.

Mardan public safety commission chairman Azam Khankhel said that without people’s cooperation, police would be unable to cope with the worst law and order situation.

He said that police should respect representatives of people and elders of the area.

He said that he had checked drug peddlers and proclaimed offenders in the UC and reported to police for action.

He claimed that tribal agencies were notorious for criminal activities and there were some places in Mardan district, including Maraahti Mera, where the kidnappers had hideouts and keep the kidnapped persons and then make deals with their relatives.

“Maraahti is a small village on the outskirts of Toru town, which is a notorious hub of criminals.”

A local leader of traders, Hazrat Hussein, criticised the city DSP and said that the official’s attitude with people was not good when they visit his office in connection with their problems.