RAWALPINDI, July 22: The police, whose job is to maintain law and order, have started protecting themselves from possible terrorist strikes by building bunkers and deploying personnel at the gates and rooftops of police stations in the Rawalpindi city.

A police official said a bunker had been built by putting sandbags outside the Waris Khan police station. He said two armed policemen were deployed outside and one at the rooftops of the police station.

A senior police official said public entry to police stations had been restricted and people were allowed to enter the stations only after their proper identification.

The step was taken on Sunday in the light of recent wave of terror attacks on security forces and police in different parts of the country. The traffic police office in Rawalpindi has already been closed following intelligence that terrorists might strike police offices dealing with the public.

Extra police deployment has also been made outside the City police station while the main gate of the building was being kept closed.

Only relevant persons are being allowed entry after their identification.

As a further security step, parking of vehicles close to the police station building has been banned.

With heavily-armed security personnel inside, bunkers have also been built on the rooftops of the ministry of defence building in Rawalpindi.

“Though we have not placed sandbags outside the police station but two armed security personnel have been deployed at the rooftop and two outside the main gate. People are being allowed in only after their verifications,” a duty officer at the New Town police station said.

Similarly, public entry to the City Police Office has been restricted and the road in front of the office has also been closed to the public. Heavily-armed policemen have been deployed at the exit and entry points.

Extra security manpower has been deployed at sensitive installations to ensure security inside and outside the buildings, Senior Superintendent of Police (operation) Yasin Farooq told Dawn.

Appropriate security measures have also been taken at Islamabad international airport and outside the district courts and high court buildings.