KOHAT, Nov 20: The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Kohat region, Zulfiqar Cheema, has requisitioned the Frontier Corps for deployment in the Hangu district, which has a history of sectarian violence. The move is aimed at stopping the spillover of the fighting in Kurram Agency.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Cheema said at the moment the police and Frontier Constabulary personnel were patrolling the Kohat-Hangu Road. Traffic had been diverted to the Lachi-Hangu route for the safety of the people.

He said: “I requisitioned the Frontier Corps for Hangu on Sunday but they have not sent any troops so far. I hope that a few platoons will reach Hangu by tomorrow which will be deployed at all exit routes to the Kurram and Orakzai agencies and patrol the city, bazaar and other sensitive areas.”

In the meantime, he said, the police and civil administration officials were in contact with the elders belonging to both sides so that they could use their influence to retain normalcy in Hangu, which was witnessing the worst violence since 1998.

He said security had been beefed up in Kohat and all precautionary measures were being taken, following fighting in Darra Adamkhel, which is only a few kilometres away from Kohat.

An additional force had been called out in Kohat while the military has also tightened security in the cantonment area.