Probe ordered into policemen missing in Indus

Jul 10, 2017

LAHORE: Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Khattak on Sunday took notice of policemen going missing in the Indus near Ghazi Ghat Bridge and directed authorities to hold an inquiry and submit its report within 24hours.

Punjab Highway Petrol (PHP) Additional Inspector General Amjad Javed saleemi was directed to hold inquiry into the incident, who reached Dera Ghazi Khan for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 and Pakistan Army teams were making efforts to search for the three police officials missing in the river.

Six policemen deployed at riverine checkpost Dari Mero were engaged in preflood monitoring rehearsal as well as patrolling in the Indus when their boat capsized and they went missing on Saturday evening.

Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot and recovered the policemen Anis, Ijaz and bilal and shifted them to Shazi Teaching Hospital.

The rescuers, however, continued searching for the remaining policemen identified as Aslam, Ali Hamza and Taimur Nawaz, but later had to halt the operation due to darkness.

They resumed the search operation on Sunday morning, but were unsuccessful even after 24 hours. Police and rescuers could not specify how the boat capsized and said they were gathering information.

Dera Ghazi Khan District Police Officer (DPO) Ahmad Nawaz Cheema told Dawn that the riverine force officials were busy in preflood preparation when their boat turned over in the river. Rescuers recovered three of the Policemen and shifted them to nearby hospital where they were stable.

He said most of the policemen working with the riverine force knew swimming but the supervisory staff did not. There were 25 riverine checkpost in Dera Ghazi Khan District and were engaged in pre-flood preparation.

However, Multan Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Dr Kaleemullah said eight divers had been sent to join the search operation in Dera Ghazi Khan.

(Daily Dawn)

********