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PESHAWAR,
June 28 (APP): Inspector General (IG) Frontier Corps (FC), Maj. Gen Muhammad
Alam Khattak has said that Bara operation in Khyber Agency has been launched
with the sole objective of checking growing trend of crime in the outskirts of
Peshawar and for restoring writ of the government. Briefing
newsmen about the outcome of the operation here at Qila Bala Hisar Fort on
Saturday, Maj. Gen Alam Khattak said the operation is jointly launched by FC and
Frontier Police under the command of government.
“We are
conducting this operation with the objective of checking the growing trend of
crime primarily against the phenomena of rising crime in the suburbs of
Peshawar,” said IG FC. He was flanked by Additional Chief Secretary FATA
Secretariat, Habibullah Khan.
The
officials taking part in the operation are directed to employ limited force,
show maximum restraint and fully avoid collateral damage, he added.
He said in
tribal area FC personnel are taking part while in the settled area Police is
deployed for the objective.
In the
first stage, he continued, the operation is restricted to Bara Tehsil of Khyber
Agency and it will be later expanded to other areas including the suburbs of
Peshawar for netting criminals.
IG FC
also clarified that the operation is not aimed against any group or personality, giving reference to leaders of Laskhar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam
two Islamic
militant groups fighting against each other in Khyber Agency.
“Our
objective is to nab criminals either to which group they belong and restore writ
of the government,” said IG FC while responding to a question.
He
also explained that residents of settled area, especially Hayatabad Township
which is located on the border with Khyber Agency, would not be affected by the
operation. He said there is no need of migration from Hayatabad for safety.
On
the first day of the operation, Maj Gen Muhammad Alam Khattak said, strict
curfew was imposed and movement was stopped in Bara. Paratroopers have taken
position on almost all the hill tops and important locations and raided two fort like
homes of Mangal Bagh, head of Lashkar-e-Islam. Later these dens were destroyed
with use of explosive, he informed.
IG FC
said one casualty was reported on the first day of operation when forces,
while retaliating to gunfire in self defence, killed a person in Shalober area.
The
operation, he said was planned for four to five days, but, he hastened to add,
it may be prolonged for more days. Presently, he said, curfew is imposed and
movement is totally banned in Bara Tehsil. He said during operation no
resistance was witnessed. However, he said, we will move forward to chase the
criminals from one pocket to another.
After
completing operation in Khyber Agency, crackdown would be launched against
criminals in the outskirts of Peshawar, he reiterated.
IG FC said
Bara Operation enjoys the support of public who wanted action against the
criminal who were challenging writ of the government.
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