LAHORE: At least 15 people died and 1,527 others were injured in 1,262 road traffic crashes (RTCs) across Punjab on the first day of Eidul Azha.
The situation is going to intensify on the Independence Day August 14. For the purpose, Rescue 1122, Lahore Police and City Traffic Police have devised their plans.
Lahore Police has decided to deploy over 4,000 police officials on the day under the supervision of six SPs, 35 DSPs, 84 inspectors and 356 upper subordinates. The force will counter one-wheeling, aerial firing, fireworks, louder speaker and hooliganism.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority cameras will also be used for security monitoring purposes. Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit (PRU) teams will stop unlawful activities near parks, main roads and other recreational spots. They will also coordinate with traffic police for the purpose.
As far traffic plan is concerned, over 2,400 wardens, 200 patrolling officers, 140 inspectors, 11 DSPs will perform duty under the supervision of two SPs.
Extra patrolling officers will be deployed on canal road, Mall Road, Jail Road, main boulevard Gulberg and Maulana Shaukat Ali Road. Extra deployment will be made on Allama Iqbal Road, GT Road and Defence Road. One emergency squad will be left on the disposal of each DSP. Temporary speed breaker and barriers will be placed. Motorcyclists will be made to use service road only on few important roads. An emergency squad will be given on the disposal of a DSP.
Safe city cameras will be used to identify to take action against those blocking the roads. CTPL have decided to observe zero-tolerance policy against one wheeling, racing, zigzag, hooliganism and road blocking.
Meanwhile, Eidul Azha passed peacefully amid tight security arrangements. On the occasion, at least 10,000 police officials under the supervision of 06 SPs, 32 DSPs, 84 Inspectors remained on the duty on Chand Raat and Eid day for the security of as 4533 masajid in the city which were categorized according to their sensitivity. As many as 278 masajid were marked of category “A”, 832 masajid of category “B” and 3423 masajid of category “C”.
Eid prayers were performed in 193 open areas of the city.
Strict monitoring of all the venues will be ensured. Police Jawans of Special Security Unit (SSU), Anti-Riot Force (ARF), Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit were put on high alert on their points of postings and ensured complete checking of citizens at masajid and other related places. Dolphin Squad and PRU teams remained on patrolling around the religious places.
The citizens were provided three-layered safety at masajid and religious places. Search operations, sweep checking, geo-fencing, biometric verification and all other preventive measures were also adopted to restrain from any untoward situation. Metal detectors and walk through gates along with CCTV cameras were used for checking and monitoring purposes.
Snipers were deputed on roofs of building to keep an eye on suspects or any suspicious activity.
A day earlier Eid, a flag march also conducted under the supervision of SSP Operations Malik Ismail Kharak. The march passed through all the major roads of the city. It was conducted on the orders of IGP Arif Nawaz Kahn.
Moreover, senior police officers remained on patrolling to review security arrangements. They also offered Namaz-e-Eid and met Eid with jawans of the force.
IGP Arif Nawaz Khan, Capital City Police Officer BA Nasir, DIG Operations Ashfaq Khan and other officers offered Namaz-e-Eid at Qila Gujjar Singh police lines.
Traffic wardens also remained on duty to discourage one-wheeling and racings on the roads. They steered up operation against one-wheeling in collaboration with Dolphin Squad. Chief Traffic Police Officer (CTO) Liaqat Ali Malik spent time with the wardens after offering Eid.
On the other hand, the Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 deployed 9,907 rescuers at strategic sites during Eidul Azha holidays to ensure prompt response to emergencies, disasters, or any other untoward incident. At least 12,000 rescuers performed Eidul Azha duties in three shifts at 550 key points established across Punjab including 1,057 emergency vehicles, 700 of motorcycle ambulances.
(Tribune)
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