MAZAR-e-Sharif (PAN): Locals in Samangan province while expressing their satisfaction over the current state of security underlined there was need for recruitment of more policemen with advanced equipments to further bolster the law and order in the province. 
With the exception of Darah Sofapayen district, which sometime faces clashes and insecurity like situations, rests of the five districts and provincial capital have tight security, official said.
The officials said northern highway passes within Samangan province was completely safe and secure from where convoys of foreign forces were traveling without any hindrances.
Musadiullah Muzafari, chief of provincial police headquarters told Pajhwok Afghan News Samangan was completely secure and had been made fully protected from any threat.
He said militants had their presence elsewhere in the province but had no ability to face the police force, adding security forces were working out strategy to purge the entire province of militants and force them out from local population.
Alam, a resident of Darah Sofpayen told Pajhwok Afghan News militants sneaked into the district after the demining of coal reserves was started.
About ten a members’ group of militant was active in staging militant related activities and hampering demining of coal reserves in the province.
“The Darah Sofpayen district has witnessed high profile kidnapping cases by the militants. Armed groups abducted national and foreigner engineers of a construction company few years back who were later released unhurt,” he recalled.
Head of Smangan provincial council said Darah Sof was the centre of resistance during Taliban rule, saying because of its strategic location, the district had the command of militancy in Baghaln and Kundoz provinces.
Head of provincial council said till purging of militants from Darah Sof district, security of Baghlan, Sar-a-Pul and Kundoz districts could not be improved.
Head of Samangan security said law and order in Darah Sofpayen and Darah Sofbala had been improved to great extent during the current year.
During the last couple of years, more than 30 militants have been surrendered unconditionally and integrated into the government, helping in boosting of law and order in the province, he added.
A group of some militants were on hide in mountainous region of the province with no ability to confront the government forces, he assured.
Mosadiq said the transfer of security command of the province from foreigners to the Afghan forces clearly demonstrated the improved law and order.
“The Samangan security responsibilities were transferred in December, 2011from foreign to Afghan forces,” he added.
Samangan Governor Khairullah Anosh said security of the province had been made impregnable following extended cooperation of civilians with the Afghan forces. “We did not confront any obstacle as far as the security of the province is concerned,” he added.
Mosadiq Zafar, head of provincial police headquarters said Afghan security forces were discharging their duties efficiently and brought the security situation under their control.
The residents of Samangan province lauded the security forces for maintaining law and order in the province.
Mohammad Amin, a resident of Aybak city told Pajhwok Afghan News they did not notice any big insecurity that hampering the development of the province.  
He said security forces were doing commendable job to ensure stability in the province.
Head of police security chief Musadiq Muzafari said his forces were expanding their grip toward far-flung areas of the province in an apparent attempt to root out any threat.
Total strength of police force stood at 1, 200 men, a force that was not enough for the entire area, he said, adding the number of policemen should be increased to at least 2, 000 individuals.
Head of provincial police demanded sophisticated weapons and other equipments to make the police force more efficient to thwart any big attack by the adversary.