Police action: Shikarpur operation to be re-launched in mid-April
Operation was launched to recover missing persons in katcha area
Operation was launched to recover missing persons in katcha area. PHOTO: AFP
SUKKUR:
In spite of tremendous effort and resources and the loss of a head constable, the Shikarpur police are no closer to recovering the missing persons allegedly being held in the katcha area.
According to police officials, the suspended operation to recover these people will be resumed in mid-April, while other officials claim the operation was never suspended and is still ongoing.
The Garhi Tegho area, situated in the katcha of Khanpur, has been a safe haven for criminals and, despite the fact that the police are aware of this, no effective operation has been carried out to eliminate the threat of criminals. Former Larkana DIG Khadim Rind had openly claimed that deals for the release of kidnapped persons always take place in Shikarpur, no matter where they were kidnapped from. The controversial statement had sparked debates across the province, including in the Sindh Assembly, which finally resulted in Rind's transfer.
Fifteen days ago, the Shikarpur police had launched an operation in the katcha of Khanpur to recover three kidnapped persons, including a minor girl who was kidnapped near Thull more than eight years ago. During the operation, the law enforcers lost a head constable and two policemen were injured, while they claimed to have killed five dacoits but, despite the lapse of 15 days, the police failed to recover their bodies.
However, the police managed to rescue a woman who, along with five other women, was kidnapped from Sehwan two years ago. Shikarpur SSP Nasir Aftab had vowed to continue search till the recovery of the last kidnapped person but the operation was called off without achieving the goal.
According to a Shikarpur police officer, the SSP has written a letter to the Sindh IG requesting the establishment of a police station at Garhi Tegho. The sources added that it has been planned to launch a drastic operation against the criminals in mid-April, however, they claimed that the timing of the operation coincides with the harvesting of the wheat crop in the katcha and that the police have chosen this time to confiscate the harvested wheat. The police often conduct operations in the katcha areas from the last week of March till mid-April to confiscate wheat.
SSP Aftab was not available for comments but Irfan Panhwar, the personal staff officer of SSP Aftab, said the SSP's mobile phone is switched off as he is on the way to Karachi and said he knew nothing about the operation in Shikarpur. A Shikarpur police officer, SP Masood Bangash, claimed that the operation was never suspended and was still ongoing. He said they hope to clear the area of criminals by the end of April.
An influential landowner in Shikarpur district, who wished to remain anonymous, said this is because of the inefficiency of the government functionaries. "Shikarpur district has remained a safe haven for criminals for a long time but neither the elected representatives, nor the police and administrative officers are taking any interest in checking these criminals," he said.
"The katcha area between Shikarpur and Larkana has always served as the safe haven for the outlaws and if there is willingness, it could be cleared once and for all," he said. However, he alleged that criminals could not survive on their own without the backing of politicians and other influential people.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2016.
In spite of tremendous effort and resources and the loss of a head constable, the Shikarpur police are no closer to recovering the missing persons allegedly being held in the katcha area.
According to police officials, the suspended operation to recover these people will be resumed in mid-April, while other officials claim the operation was never suspended and is still ongoing.
The Garhi Tegho area, situated in the katcha of Khanpur, has been a safe haven for criminals and, despite the fact that the police are aware of this, no effective operation has been carried out to eliminate the threat of criminals. Former Larkana DIG Khadim Rind had openly claimed that deals for the release of kidnapped persons always take place in Shikarpur, no matter where they were kidnapped from. The controversial statement had sparked debates across the province, including in the Sindh Assembly, which finally resulted in Rind's transfer.
Fifteen days ago, the Shikarpur police had launched an operation in the katcha of Khanpur to recover three kidnapped persons, including a minor girl who was kidnapped near Thull more than eight years ago. During the operation, the law enforcers lost a head constable and two policemen were injured, while they claimed to have killed five dacoits but, despite the lapse of 15 days, the police failed to recover their bodies.
However, the police managed to rescue a woman who, along with five other women, was kidnapped from Sehwan two years ago. Shikarpur SSP Nasir Aftab had vowed to continue search till the recovery of the last kidnapped person but the operation was called off without achieving the goal.
According to a Shikarpur police officer, the SSP has written a letter to the Sindh IG requesting the establishment of a police station at Garhi Tegho. The sources added that it has been planned to launch a drastic operation against the criminals in mid-April, however, they claimed that the timing of the operation coincides with the harvesting of the wheat crop in the katcha and that the police have chosen this time to confiscate the harvested wheat. The police often conduct operations in the katcha areas from the last week of March till mid-April to confiscate wheat.
SSP Aftab was not available for comments but Irfan Panhwar, the personal staff officer of SSP Aftab, said the SSP's mobile phone is switched off as he is on the way to Karachi and said he knew nothing about the operation in Shikarpur. A Shikarpur police officer, SP Masood Bangash, claimed that the operation was never suspended and was still ongoing. He said they hope to clear the area of criminals by the end of April.
An influential landowner in Shikarpur district, who wished to remain anonymous, said this is because of the inefficiency of the government functionaries. "Shikarpur district has remained a safe haven for criminals for a long time but neither the elected representatives, nor the police and administrative officers are taking any interest in checking these criminals," he said.
"The katcha area between Shikarpur and Larkana has always served as the safe haven for the outlaws and if there is willingness, it could be cleared once and for all," he said. However, he alleged that criminals could not survive on their own without the backing of politicians and other influential people.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2016.