SUKKUR, March 10: Army and paramilitary rangers personnel will be deployed in sensitive areas in Sindh to assist the civil authorities to maintain peace during Muharram processions.

This was stated by IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah while speaking at a press conferences in Sukkur on Monday.

The IGP Sindh said that the decision regarding deployment of the army and rangers personnel had been taken after a high-level meeting held in Sukkur.

The meeting, he said, was participated by DPOs of the Sukkur division and senior officials of rangers.

He said the army and paramilitary troops would be deployed in sensitive areas in the province, including Khairpur, Sukkur and Shikarpur.

Replying to a question, the IGP Sindh dispelled the impression about involvement of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in the province, saying that actions, conducted after the Sept 11 incident, had been taken exclusively by the Sindh police.

Outlaws and terrorists, he said, arrested by the local law enforcement agencies had been handed over to Pakistan army as they were better equipped to deal them, adding that he was not aware regarding handing over of any Sindh resident to the US authorities.

He said police did not possess any information about terrorists, who had been sent to the US.

Referring to the anti-bandit operation in SIndh, Mr Shah said that the massive operation would be initiated from Jacobabad.

He said that a large police force had been deployed at the Jacobabad air base, where the US personnel were being stationed, adding that the police lacked adequate force to deal with such a situation.

Talks, he said, for the anti-bandit operation, which was likely to be a joint effort between the Sindh and Balochistan police forces, were already under way.

The government, he said, was likely to give the go-ahead soon.

He said that a special force had also been deployed to guard the Sui gas pipeline, adding that this was a political problem and the government was trying to find an amicable solution.

He said that a border force, which would work under the Sindh police, would be set up soon and a representation in this regard had been submitted to the Sindh chief minister.

The force, he said, would mainly comprise local people of the border area.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference in Khairpur, the IGP Sindh said that strict security measures had been taken and law enforcement agencies had been alerted against the possibility of terrorist attacks at major buildings, mourning processions, Imam Bargahs and mosques.