Police short of men to guard churches

Published August 11, 2002

TOBA TEK SINGH, Aug 10: Incidents of terrorism in Muree and Taxila have forced the administration to enhance security around churches and Christian schools here.

A source disclosed on Saturday that policemen had been deputed outside 65 churches and 15 missionary institutions and hospitals in the district.

There is, however, an acute shortage of police force. In Gojra Sadar police station area, there are only 26 police constables while the number of churches and educational institutions there is 27.

RELEASED: Nine arrested activists of religious parties were released from the district jail here on Saturday.

They were detained in May for three months on the orders of the Punjab home secretary under the Maintenance of Peace Ordinance.

They include, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Rabbani, Sipah-i-Sahaba’s former city president Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad, Maulana Muhammad Abdullah of Barianwala, Maulana Syed Muteeur Rehman Abbasi, Haji Muhammad Ikram, Saeed Ahmad alias Puppo, Syed Hassan Ahmad, Hafiz Habibullah Gujjar and Maulana Khalilur Rehman. NO FIR: Five weeks have passed since the dacoity incident in which a motorcycle and cash of Rs 8,100 was snatched from a citizen, but Chuttiana police are still not registering the case.

This was complained on Saturday by bike owner Abdul Rehman, resident of Gobindpura locality, in a written application to district police chief.

He said on July 3 he was on his way home when five dacoits looted cash and snatched bike from him and his friend and threw them in fields.