Albeit slowly, peace returns in restive Bagarji forest

DSP Qalandar Bux says 80% of forest cleared, rest to be taken care of shortly

SUKKUR: Peace and normalcy seem to have returned to Bagarji Bello (forest) after successful police operations aimed at rooting out 'notorious' dacoits from the difficult terrain.

"Earlier, hardened criminals used to visit Bagarji town in broad daylight and there seemed to be no one to stop them," said the recently elected chairman of Bagarji Town Committee, Muhammad Alam Ramejo. "But now most of them have been killed or arrested or have gone into hiding. Women now visit the town to buy grocery and other items with ease," he claimed.



The Bagarji forest, situated some 20 kilometres from Sukkur, was known as a safe haven for notorious dacoits belonging to Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Sukkur. Police officials now claim to have cleared 80% of the restive area. The dacoits used to dump stolen or snatched vehicles and livestock besides keeping captives kidnapped from different areas in the forest; which is so dense that the sun's rays never reach its ground. A number of police-led operations have been conducted in the area in the past but all in vain. As soon as the operation used to come to an end, the dacoits used to reoccupy the forest. However, peace seems to be crawling back to the restive area now since the efforts of former Sukkur SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio that have been carried forward by his successor.

SSP Tunio had started a coordinated operation in the Bagarji forest in 2015 during which the police had remained successful in clearing most of the katcha area, said DSP Qalandar Bux. He added that after SSP Tunio's transfer, the new SSP, Amjad Ahmed Shaikh, continued with the operation. "Resultantly we have succeeded in ending all the no-go areas in the katcha," said the DSP. He explained how, before this operation, the criminals had become so powerful that they had occupied the police station constructed in the katcha. "But after the operation, they fled."

DSP Bux explained that now at least 50 police officials remain in the said police station and extra contingents are called in when needed. "It took us more than a year to clear the dense forest and construct katcha roads for easy access to different areas," he said. "Otherwise it had become a distant dream for the police to enter this forest."

According to the officer, almost 80% of the area has been cleared and the remaining will also be reclaimed shortls. Two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) have been deployed in the area to enable the police to reach difficult spots in no time, he added.

The active gangs

Three 'most notorious dacoits' are operating in the area, including Wazir Jagan Jatoi, Master Narejo, Kashmir Jatoi, Raheem Phulpoto, Kauro Narejo, Mahi Jatoi and Pehalwan Kharos.

The Bagarji forest connects four districts of upper Sindh, including Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Sukkur. DSP Bux said that a katcha area is spread from Sukkur to Jhali Kalwari in Shikarpur district and to Faiz Muhammad Bhindo and Piryalo in Khairpur district. According to him, the criminals can easily cross into Larkana district from the katcha of Faiz Muhammad Bhindo. "We are committed to rooting out the menace of criminals from Bagarji Bello and, so far, have cleared the entire area from Sukkur to Faiz Muhammad Bhindo," he claimed.

In action

Talking about the operation in Bagarji Bello, SSP Shaikh told The Express Tribune that seven 'most wanted and hardened criminals' have been killed and more than 100 others have been arrested so far. He said that Shah Bello, which connects Sukkur and Shikarpur districts, was easily cleared of criminals. "As far as the Bagarji Bello is concerned, it connects four districts - Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Sukkur," he explained. "In the first two phases, we have strengthened our presence in the area and occupied the police station in the katcha. In the next two phases, we will establish check-posts at the bordering areas of other districts to deter the movement of the dacoits."



SSP Shaikh said that SSPs of other districts have also been asked to establish similar check-posts at their bordering areas to confine the movement of criminals. "We are waiting for the water in Indus River to recede because APCs cannot move in water," he said. "After that, we will proceed with our plan of establishing check-posts."

Life near Bagarji

In the restive katcha area, people were earlier rendered unable to sow crops out of fear. However, locals are now working on their lands since the operation started bearing fruit. One of the peasants, Akbar, said that residents are happy to have gotten rid of the criminals. "Earlier, they [criminals] didn't allow anyone to work on the agricultural fields," he said. "Now we are free to work here, though some of us still fear them."

The president of Bagarji Hindu Panchayat, Mukhi Raj Kumar, was of the view that the operation has made a positive difference, which is evident from the peace prevailing in the area. "In the past, the incidents of highway robberies and theft were rampant," he said. "Besides, the criminals were at will to attack any house in the town and get away. But during the last year or so, the situation has changed and no case of robbery has taken place. I give its credit to the police."

Long road ahead

Another resident, Baqar Hussain Shah, was of the view that most of the notorious dacoits are still at large, which is why the residents of Bagarji always fear a backlash from them. A local landlord, Riaz Hussain Junejo, said that he doesn't see any difference. When asked to share his view of the operation, shopkeeper Pehalwan Ghumro lauded the efforts of the police and said it is because of the operation that peace was restored in the area.

Bagarji Town Committee chairman Ramejo said there is much more to be done. "Though they [dacoits] don't come in the town now but the people are still afraid of them."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2016.