UPPER DIR – In a rare show of commitment to polio eradication from Upper Dir, the District Coordination Officer Riaz Khan Mehsud terminated three Levy personnel for being absent from duty during anti-polio vaccination drive.He ordered issuance of show-cause notices to 30 Health Department officials including a doctor and teachers for the same reason. The three Levy personnel did not turn up for duty to the assigned points and were found “negligent in performing duty,” which caused their termination. In addition, show-cause notices were issued to a doctor, 17 lady health workers (LHW), one lady health visitor (LHV), five technicians, four area in-charges of polio in Health Department and three teachers including two female teachers. All the officials were found absent from duty during the three-day polio campaign. Now, the campaign would be carried out for two more days to ensure all children were vaccinated. In Upper Dir, according to Ansar Mehmood Polio Pockal person, polio drops were to administer to over 151,000 children. The DCO has, however, committed to speed up efforts for eradication of the crippling disease. Meanwhile, A large number of people in different areas of district Upper Dir voluntarily handed over heavy weapons to security forces in a bid to help the government cleanse the area of heavy weapons. The weapons included rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, mortars, anti-aircraft guns, and thousands of rounds. The security forces showed the weapons and thousands of ammunitions to media in Wari town of Upper Dir and appreciated people for cooperating with them. Brig Saqeeb Rashed Ahmed and Riaz Khan Mehsood said the security forces held jirgas in different areas of the district and urged elders to voluntarily hand over heavy weapons. and allowed them to keep light weapons for their protection. He said residents in Akhgram Wari, Nihag Darra and different villages of tehsil Wari responded to the call and handed over heavy weapons that included small range artillery, mortars and anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns and more than 6000 ammunitions. Saqeeb said they knew people had heavy weapons and they concerned the weapons might fall into the hands of militants. He said the purpose of the drive was to clear the Upper Dir of weapons and in this regard he appreciated the cooperation shown by people. People of Upper Dir was always fully cooperated with Pak Army and government in difficult times, he added. DCO said now we looking for the best future and developments of the people of the district instead of weapons.