By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: After another policeman shot wounded by the unidentified persons, general public here in Swat have showed concern over the fresh wave of target attacks on police and peace committee members.
According to Mingora police, Wahid Khan, a policeman was on the way to perform duty that unidentified persons opened firing on him leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Saidu Teaching hospital where he is under treatment.
On January 12, two policemen were gunned down by unidentified persons in Dherai area of Kabal tehsil. Police and security forces, as usual, had cordoned off the area soon after the incidents but the assailants had managed to escape the scene.
According to District Police Office this is the second target attack while eight incidents of target killings occurred in 2015 in Swat in which two policemen, three village defense committee members and three civil people were killed.
The point of concern, according to people, is failure of the law enforcement agencies who failed to arrest any target killer.
“We are used to hearing that unidentified persons killed policemen or VDC members and escaped. We never heard news in which the attackers were ever arrested which has created doubts about target killers in our minds,” said Mohammad Amjad, a social activist of Mingora.
People said though Swat is peaceful but the incident of target killings occur now and then, which has made people worried to some extent.
“The incidents of target killings of police and village defense committee members put people in doubts about the militants’ presence in the area. We do not understand that despite huge number of law enforcement personnel in Swat, regular target killing occurs,” said Anwar Khan, a resident of Saidu Sharif.
District Police Officer Swat, Saleem Marwat told Dawn that security in the area was heightened where search operation was carried out after the culprits. “The policeman was coming for duty from his home in police uniform and was attacked in the way. Soon after the incident police and security forces have started cordon operation in the area,” he said, adding, “All those police who go to their houses after duty hours have been directed to take proper precautionary measures.”
Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) SP, Muhammad Amjad said that police force was alert and capable of tackling criminal elements properly. “Our intelligence and investigation teams jointly work to collect information in the area where incident of target attacks occur and then our operational wing conduct operation against the suspects and move further investigation,” he told Dawn, adding that after the establishment of CTD wing in police, considerable difference could be seen in the incidents.
