Fighting crime: Zarb-i-Aahan launched against bandits

BAHAWALPUR/ KASUR:

A crackdown on criminal gangs, named Operation Zarb-i-Aahan, was launched by Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan police on Friday.

The operation is being supervised by Dera Ghazi Khan RPO Rehmanullah Niazi, Bahawalpur RPO Ehsan Sadiq, Rahim Yar Khan DPO Zeeshan Asghar and Rajanpur DPO Ghulam Mubashar.

A police spokesman told newsmen that 1,500 police officials especially trained for the operation had been deployed around the Kacha area.

He said police was facing resistance from bandits. “They have been shooting at the police teams,” he said.

He said the group had retreated to Kachi Jamal. He said police had surrounded the area and had set up check posts there.

He said police had been provided mortar support by the Punjab Rangers.

‘Robbers’ killed in rescue bid

Two men believed to robbers were killed in a shootout with the police near Ganda Singh Wala police station on Thursday.

A police spokesman said a Ganda Singh Wala police team was transporting two suspects from Gujranwala to Kasur when their was attacked by six men riding two motorbikes near Kali Pul.

He said the men had opened fire at the team escorting the men in a bid to rescue them.

He said when the police returned fired, Abbas and Falak Sher were injured. He said they were taken to a hospital where they died.

He said their assailants managed to flee.

DPO Syed Nasir Ali Rizvi announced certificates and cash rewards for the police team, he said. He said the officers had been lauded for their courage.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2016.