QUETTA: Polio teams were provided possible security but proper security to 1200 teams is not possible due to lack of resources and manpower. Woman volunteer killed in firing was administering anti polio drops to children door to door in her own muhalla. Providing no security to women volunteers appointed at local level was strategy of World Health Organization. It was guessed that volunteers working in their respective areas had no danger but it proved wrong after Hazarganji incident.
These views were expressed by Inspector General Balochistan Police Moazaam Jah Ansari while speaking with Newsmen after visiting site of firing on female polio volunteers in Hazarganji Friday. He was accompanied by SSP Operations Naseebullah Khan and SSP Investigation Jawad Ahmed.
IG said unfortunately tow incidents of target killing took place in which female polio volunteers and policemen were targeted.
He said form Start new year four to five incidents of terrorism have taken place in which mostly policemen were made target. He said after suicide attack in January 2016 in Satellite Town polio workers have been attacked after two years. Reason was their security had been enhanced greatly during this period.
He said WHO raising orbit of anti polio campaign appointed community based volunteers at local level. They were assigned to feed anti polio drops to children door to door in their r own muhallah. Home of woman and her daughter killed in firing incident was two streets away. It was understood that these volunteers are local women and were feeding polio drops will have no danger.
This was strategy of WHO but in this case women were made target. He said it is an attempt to damage polio drive in which different people and various forces can be involved. Police was investigating target killing of polio volunteers and policemen. If any resemblance was found in these incidents or there was any indication which group was involved every possible legal action would be taken against them. We hoe form our police that it would trace all elements involved in these incidents and taken them to task.
IGP said six day polio drive got underway on July 16in which 1200 teams were working. They were provided security but at individual level security cannot be provided to all the 1200 teams because we face lack of resources and manpower. We had made security arrangements all over the city. He said security was also provided to basic health units and passage ways for polio teams.