New DPO cautions against complacency about peace

CHITRAL: Newly-appointed district police officer (DPO) Lower Chitral Wasim Riaz said maintenance of Chitral’s peace would be his priority and in this regard no negative activity would be tolerated to create any misunderstanding among the local people.

He was speaking to a group of local reporters at his office after assuming the charge on Friday. The DPO said Chitral was a peaceful area and its people were also known for their love for peace.

He said people belonging to different schools of thought had lived in Chitral with peace and harmony but they should be careful that any miscreant could make a bid to spoil the peace by sowing the seeds of hatred.

He said he considered Chitral as his home and would be trying to do his best to serve the residents and resolve their problems.

DPO Riaz said he would give priority to building strong communication links with the residents and in this regard media persons could play a vital role in bringing the police and the people closer.

He also said any government department could have shortcomings and the media could be a catalyst in pointing out these shortcomings so that they could be resolved for the benefit of the people.

The DPO said strict action would be taken against those involved in drug peddling and no leniency would be showed against such elements.

About the rising cases of suicide, the DPO said there was a need to carry out scientific and technical investigations into such cases, adding all such incidents did not seem to be suicide cases but were shown as such.

He stressed the need to collect data of such incidents since 2015 besides creating awareness to check the trend.

Reporting: Muhkam Uddin Ayuni