City celebrates Eid today, 10,000 policemen deployed
sLAHORE: City police has beefed up security on Eidul Azha deploying more than ten thousand police officials to prevent any untoward incident, Daily Times learnt on Thursday.
A number of Lahoris would offer Eid prayer at 3,500 mosques, open places and grounds under tight security arrangements today (Friday) across the city. Police would perform their security duties at all important mosques, other places and markets, however, snipers would also be deployed at all important rooftops of the mosques as well as other sensitive places. Rangers’ personnel would be high alert on Eid days to cope with any untoward incidents. A spokesperson said that active platoon of Rangers would ready to perform their security duties on emergency call within few minutes response across the city.
The police department has also called additional the Elite Police Force, Mujahid Force, Quick Response Force in addition to personnel in plainclothes from other intelligence agencies for round-the-clock patrolling in all sensitive areas on Eid days. Police high-ups have ordered to depute special trained snipers on rooftops of buildings located adjacent to important public places such as mosques, government installations, buildings and offices across the city especially on Eidul Azha days. The steps have been taken in the wake of increasing rush in markets before Eid
Talking to Daily Times, a senior police officer said a high-profile meeting of senior police officers has been held to finalise a security plan to maintain law and order in the city during on Eid days. SHOs serving in different police stations across the city, asking not to be named told Daily Times that they have already tightened security at places of worship, markets and other important areas on Eid days. CCPO Captain (r) Amin Wains has said that a comprehensive security plan has been chalked out for Eidul Azha under which more than ten thousand police jawans, razakars and officers would perform duty in order to provide foolproof security at all mosques and open places where Eid prayers were held.
He said that police officials, equipped with metal detectors, would be deputed at mosques, imambarghas and other religious places and complete security would also be provided to the citizens of Lahore on the second and third day of Eid. The CCPO directed the CTO to prepare a special traffic plan for ensuring smooth flow of traffic on roads during Eid days and directed that additional traffic wardens be deputed at important roads and busy areas. He directed to make foolproof arrangements at the entry and exit points of the city, important buildings, bus and wagon stands, business centres etc. and depute plane clothes men their for keeping a vigil in this regard.
He said that almost all the security arrangements have been completed to prevent any untoward incident on the eve of on Eid days. He said walkthrough gates and metal detectors would be set up at all major mosques besides heavy contingents of police would be deputed on this occasion. Chief Traffic Officer Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said that a comprehensive traffic plan has finalised for Eid to maintain traffic flow near Eidgahs, important mosques and all public places across the city. He said more than three thousand traffic officials, including SPs, DSPs, inspectors and traffic wardens, would perform their duties on Eid days.
Thousands of people have left the city to celebrate Eidul Azha in their hometowns. The Eid exodus completed Thursday night. After the departure of thousands of people, the city wore a deserted look. Huge rush could be seen at bus terminals, Lahore Railway Station, city’s entry and exit points while the transporters were charging high fare from the home goers by taking advantage of the situation. Even as the companies like Daewoo, Faisal Movers, Bilal Travels, Niazi Bus Service, Rehbar Travel and other are charging the old fare, getting a ticket is not an easy task.
Charging commuters extra is a routine business of the transporters on Eid days while the authorities are unable to check the overcharging. Usually, a good numbers of people leave the city couple of days ahead of Eid to avoid the rush and heavy charging. However, the people whose business is related to Eid and those live nearer destinations from the city leave the provincial capital a day before the Eid. Railways is also operating 10 special trains to facilitate the commuters and announced 10 percent discount on fare. It also announced 25 percent discount in fare at all passenger and express trains on two days of the Eid. Around four to five million people leave the city twice in a year - on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha.
http://nxnreality.blogspot.com/2015/09/city-celebrates-eid-today-10000.html
