KARACHI: Additional Inspector General of Police (Karachi) Javed Alam Odho on Thursday said that 6,312 policemen would provide security to participants of over 1,000 mourning processions and 50,000 Majalis during 1st to 10th of Muharram in the metropolis.

In addition, personnel of Rangers, traffic police and other law enforcers would be deployed, he added.

Speaking at a press conference in his office, the AIG said that routes of 189 mourning processions and venues of 665 Majalis were `extremely sensitive`.He said Sunni schools of thought would also hold 314 gatherings during the days.

Major mourning processions would be taken out from 7th to 10th of Muharram, he pointed out. He said there was no specific threat to the congregations.

`We have prepared a contingency plan keeping in view the general threat to law and order in the country and we are hopeful that the Ashura would pass off peacefully in the metropolis,` said AIG Odho.

He urged religious scholars to follow the prescribed code of conduct to maintain harmony.

Street crimes In reply to a question, he said street crime had increased in the month of May because the police were engaged in checking violence in some parts of the city. He apparently alluded to a law and order situation causedon May 9 and some following days in the metropolis.

However, he added, a decrease in street crime was registered in the months of June and July.

He admitted that the number of `violent street crimes` has increased.

Area of success AIG Odho said there was no specific threat from outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)in Karachi.

`Police and other law enforeers have achieved success against terrorism,` he noted, and termed this an `area of success` as not only incidents of terrorism had been effectively checked, but crimes like extortion and kidnapping for ransom had also been controlled.

Harassment case Mr Odho said a `good team` had been formed to arrest thesuspect who had allegedly tried to publicly assault a woman in Gulistan-i-Jauhar recently.

`We are working to arrest the suspect and gain access to the victim as well,` he said. He pointed out that the FIR was registered on behalf of the state as the victim woman did not come forward to lodge a complaint.

Killing of innocent citizen by police Regarding murder of a young expatriate by police in Manghopir recently, the city police chief said that because of the irresponsible act of the policemen, an innocent life was lost. However, one DSP had been arrested and concerted efforts were under way to apprehend the absconding ASI, who was the main accused in the case. He said strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty in the case.