PESHAWAR: The morale of both residents and the capital city police has been boosted by a series of aggressive operations against gangsters in recent weeks.
A number of gangsters have been held, many have escaped the area while a few notorious ones were killed during encounters with the police after aggressive strategy by the capital city police officer, Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad.
In the latest aggressive actions, encounters took place in Shangla and Shahpur area where three top members of Lalay group were killed on Friday.
According to police, the Lal Sher, Jan Sher and Ramazan Sher were wanted to the police of Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera and Counter Terrorism Department in at least 34 incidents of target killing of cops, murders of other people, attempted murder, extortion, land grabbing and harassing public. They had set up posts in the area that were demolished by the police.
Before that Adam Khan was killed along with two others in an encounter after he challenged the writ of the state and threatened senior officials.
Police in the provincial capital are breaking the nexus of the armed groups involved in blood feuds, land grabbing and harassing people by displaying weapons in escort vehicles.
Also, besides accelerated operations against street criminals and drug dealers, actions are underway against the groups that are looting millions from locals through usury, underplay and betting on cricket.
According to CCPO Dr Mian Saeed, all the officers have been tasked with going after the land mafias, people carrying weapons in public, jirgas by armed groups and all those involved in street crime, drug dealing, usury and underplay.
The police chief said all these criminal groups would be eliminated to provide a sense of relief to the people of Peshawar. Action has been planned against a number of such groups in the coming days. “Peshawar Police will go after anyone who threatens the life, honour and property of the common man,” he added.
There are reports and videos on social media showing leaders and members of a number of rings have escaped abroad to avoid police action. Others are keeping a low profile following aggressive operations against the mafias involved in land grabbing, harassing the general public, drug dealing and other crimes in the provincial capital.
People on social media have welcomed the actions against these mafia, who got strengthened in the last many years since there was no action against them. “The actions taken by Mian Saeed and his team against mafias and gangs in the last few weeks are unprecedented,” people said on Facebook and TikTok, saying such actions should have been taken in the past too.
Many on social media have lauded the CCPO as one of Peshawar Police’s most courageous commanders, alongside figures like Safwat Ghayur and Malik Saad, for his recent operations against powerful gangs that had remained untouched for years. They asked for clear support by the government, political parties and senior cops to the incumbent team of Peshawar police in actions against all kinds of gangs in the coming days.
Aggressive operations have been conducted against a number of groups in the recent weeks that were involved in land grabbing and other crimes, creating serious law and order situation and challenging the writ of the state for the last many years. Many of these accused used to glorify crime by posting the videos of their attacks on social media, to harass the public.
Saeed made it clear that no one challenging the writ of the state will be spared. All the cops have been conveyed the message that those failing to go after these elements will also face the music, he added.
The capital city police authorities have also launched action against the armed groups involved in so-called jirgas, saying they are defaming this esteemed forum of Pakhtuns only to mint money.
The officials said the dispute resolution councils have been reformed that should be approached by the parties.
Apart from land mafia and those challenging the writ of the state on social media, police have killed and arrested in wounded condition a number of those involved in street crimes.
The increasing gun culture had become a serious issue for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and society for the last many years but authorities were still struggling in the last many years to address the menace and ensure peace.
