LAHORE Capital City Police Officer Ahmed Raza Tahir has said that security barriers cannot be removed from the Punjab Capital immediately, as the law enforcement agency is facing unusual situation and receiving frequent warnings about possible terror attacks on the key government installations. Ahmed Raza Tahir, widely acknowledged as field officer in the police circles, expressed these views during an exclusive chat with TheNation. The Lahore police chief says 80 per cent of the applicants file bogus complaints against their rivals over different disputes, putting an extra burden on the police investigators. Dispelling the impression of protocol duties, he has emphasised that a major chunk of the police force are deployed on security duties because it is also prime responsibility of the police to protect the heads of the state institutions. He says that crimes against property particularly house-robberies and car-snatching incidents have decreased sharply as a massive crackdown is underway to hunt down the proclaimed offenders. Let me tell you frankly, he says, we are passing through a critical juncture, where need unity, brotherhood and most importantly religious harmony. Each day police are put on high-alert here in the City. We are receiving frequent intelligence reports indicating audacious terror-attacks on key government institutions. We cannot afford ignoring such important threat alerts, Ahmed Raza Tahir said. While negating the impression that the police are providing protocol duties to the VVIPs only, he makes it clear that it is also police job to ensure security of the heads of the state institutions, top religious and political figures and key government installations. We are fighting against such type of terrorism that we never have seen in our history. So we are on our toes, facing complex and serious situation. We have to ensure security of the bigwigs, he justified. He says a good number of pickets are set up in different parts of the City on regular and rotation basis. Though sometime the people have to face inconvenience but, in fact, such measures are being taken for their own safety, the police chief added. About the crimes situation he says the Lahore Police have been directed to take stern action against the big fish rather than going after only the small ones. The police are after hardened criminals, top ten gangsters and dangerous proclaimed offenders. We have identified different areas to launch effective clamp down on gambling dens, drug-dealers and notorious criminals dens, he disclosed. He said that the police not only recovered more than 200 vehicles during the last two months but also handed over the vehicles to the owners in the presence of notables of the respective areas. Lahore Police have busted 120 criminal gangs involved in heinous crimes and apprehended 374 harden criminals during the months of May and June of this year. The police have also arrested 3,419 proclaimed offenders in this period who were at wanted to the police in 117 cases of murder, 80 cases of attempt of murder, 133 cases of dacoity, 385 cases of theft, 289 cases of robbery and 2415 other cases. The Capital City Police Officer informed that the police are also adopting new strategies to track down hardened criminals. We have deployed additional force in plainclothes at important points of the City. You will see, the police would carryout surprise raids in specific areas to nab the big fish, he said. Tahir also said that hectic efforts are underway to reform the investigation wing of the Lahore police as the police are going to adopt modern techniques rather than applying typical method. The investigators are getting help from the forensic labs to resolve mysteries while the police would also get the help of sniffing dogs to track down the criminals, he said. When asked about the murderers who are at large after committing multiple killing, Ahmed Raza Tahir admitted that a few are at large. They are on the run but they have to face the court of law sooner or later. About the extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions, he made it clear that there would be zero tolerance for police highhandedness. A special board has been constituted at Punjab level on the orders of the IGP Javed Iqbal to stop fake police encounters once for all, he said. We are also monitoring the cases of illegal detentions very closely. The cops to be found involved in malpractice would not be spared, he stressed. Responding to a question about the much-needed change in Thana culture, Ahmed Raza Tahir admitted that there are some deficiencies but the police command are taking multiple initiatives to bring positive change at grass-root level.