SAR-I-PUL (PAN): Expressing satisfaction over security situation, residents of Sar-i-Pul demanded security officials were needed to adopt more stringent measures to strengthen law and order in an attempt to further win the support of the people.
Security officials said law and order had been bolstered as compared to the past, adding efforts were on to keep security maintained in parts of the province. They expressed optimism some hurdles hampering security measures would be removed if people extended their all out supports.
Brig. Gen Abdul Rauf Taj, provincial police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News he took over charge of his duty a year ago where he observed lack of confidence amon people on police force.
He said he was feeling that police was not dealing with people in a fair manner, but since one and half year, more progress had been made in building public confidence on police force.
Considering Sar-i-Pul province comparatively insecure, Taj said he initiated multiple measures to reverse the tide of insecurity, adding some areas in Sayad and Kohistanat districts were insecure. “I am well aware of the situation but recent clearance operations have positive outcome with purging Naw Qishlaq, Armak and Torbaghri villages of armed miscreants. A number of militants were killed and arrested in the operations with sieving huge arms caches.
However, residents in Sar-i-Pul said Taliban had heavy presence in some areas, demanding the government to maintain security in parts of the province.
Mohammad Ismail, a resident of provincial capital said some parts in Sayad and Kohistanat districts were still overruled by the insurgents, adding the highway between Sar-i-Pul and Sheberghan was insecure and the government was needed to adopt stringent security measures to protect highways.
Mohammad Din, a resident of Sancharak district said his locality was still under control of warlords, harassing people by grabbing their lands and interfering in peoples’ personnel affairs.
The lawlessness created gap between government and public. The government should deploy police and security force to win the favour and support of locals, he remarked.
The provincial police chief said his force was trying to maintain security during the past six months on the Sar-i-Pul and Sheverghan highway.
Referring to warlords, he said people should directly complain to the police and his force would leave no stone unturned to resolve their problems.