Perilously poised Taxila police stations

TAXILA, May 1: The huge quantity of explosives stored in the Malkhanas (godowns) of the police stations of Taxila subdivision is not only a threat to the cops performing duties there but also to the residents as most of the police stations are located adjacent to the thickly-populated areas. The police stations of Taxila subdivision are at the top of the list in the Rawalpindi district in respect of the quantity of the confessed explosives placed in the godowns. Police sources said that Inspector General of Police, following the Faisalabad Civil Lines police station blast of the confessed explosive on April 24, 2011, sought the detail of the material placed in the Malkhanas of the police stations of the province and it was astonishing to learn that Taxila subdivision led the rest in this respect. According to the police record, the Taxila circle possesses huge quantity of explosives and explosive-related material as 1,750 kilogram live e xplosive, 75 packets of explosives in jelly shape, 32,300 detonators, 27,500 safety fuses, and 14,800 meter detonator wire are placed in gowdown of the Taxila police station while 240 kilogram explosives are placed in the Wah Cantonment police station. Such a huge quantity of explosives in Malkhanas of the area police station along with other confessed items like arms, drugs and liquor is posing threat to the police officials as these materials are placed there without any safety measures. Moreover, the people living near to the police stations are under threat of any eventuality without knowing what these police stations had in store for them. The official record shows that first cache of the explosive was seized in the area on March 15, 2010 while last one was held a few days back on April 15, 2011. A senior police official on condition of anonymity has confirmed that such a huge quantity of explosives is stored in these police stations without any safety measures. Responding to a question, he said that the police officials were well aware of the threat but it could not be shifted to any other place as these were the proofs of the crime and could be produced in the court as evidence. He said that the report had been submitted to the Inspector General of Police and its disposal or shifting to a safe place would be made on the orders from the higher authorities.