Khuda Bakhsh Chakrani alias Khudi, the ringleader of the notorious Ladi gang who was wanted in over 30 cases by the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), has been killed in a police encounter along with one of his accomplices on Saturday.
Police said a search operation is underway to arrest the remaining members of the Ladi gang.
Chakrani had kidnapping an opponent named Ramzan in the Koh-e-Safido tribal region of Dera Ghazi Khan, cut off his hands and feet and killed him. A video of the gruesome act was recorded and went viral on social media.
The LEAs launched a search operation in Kot Mubarak where Chakrani was hiding along with his accomplices. Chakrani and his accomplice Ismail were killed in an exchange of fire with the police. Chakrani was involved in dozens of incidents including robbery, kidnapping, murder, attempted murder and police encounters and was advertised in more than 30 cases.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered stern action against the Ladi gang on May 23 during his visit to Layyah.
Rangers, police and other law enforcement agencies, including the Counter-Terrorism Department, launched a joint operation in the region. In May, an operation was launched in Dera Ghazi Khan by the security forces and other law enforcement agencies. They demolished eight hideouts of the Ladi gang and their ringleader Khuda Bakhsh Ladi’s house.
The joint operation in which five armoured vehicles, Rangers, police and more than 500 personnel of CTD, BMP, Baloch Levies Forces are participating is reportedly aimed at apprehending the dacoits. The operation continued on Friday in which the security forces demolished hideouts of the Ladi gang and the house of ringleader Khuda Bakhsh Ladi.
Forces detained and questioned several people on charges of facilitating the Ladi gang and Khuda Bakhsh’s grandfather Allah Bakhsh has also been arrested.
Sources said the top operatives of the Ladi gang fled the area on motorcycles with weapons last night and moved to a safer place.
Forces have also taken the help of aerial surveillance from helicopters to arrest the fugitives. Regional Police Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Faisal Rana, who oversaw the operation on the spot said, “Police and Pak Army have stood with Rangers against the enemies of this society.
We are supporting the forces for the success of this operation. IG Punjab Inam Ghani has been monitoring the situation. Muhammad Jamil Mamdani, an activist of the Ladi gang, surrendered in the area magistrate’s court and was arrested.”
Read Two Ladi gang members nabbed
Muhammad Ladi, a member of the Ladi gang which was founded a couple of decades ago, kidnapped workers and damaged the factory facilities after their gang was denied the labour contract in the cement factory.
However, the police allegedly killed him on the tip-off of the people of the Jiani tribe of the area in an encounter.
Due to which enmity between Ladi and Jiani tribes has begun and has claimed the lives of over 24 people. At least 38 cases have been registered against Ladi so far.
On June 13, the law enforcement agencies arrested another suspect on Saturday during an intelligence-based operation underway against the Ladi gang.
The number of gang members arrested has risen to 13.
According to sources, Ismail, a key member of the Ladi gang, was arrested during an operation near a cement factory.
The suspect is involved in the brutal act of making a video in which a citizen’s arm, nose and ears were cut off.
On June 5, a spokesperson for the Punjab Police had said targeted operations of Special Operations Unit veterans were underway with the support of Border Military Police. The spokesman said several hideouts of the gang have been destroyed.
IGP Inam Ghani was in touch with Additional IG South Punjab, RPO DG Khan and DPO DG Khan has updated the IGP on the ongoing operation regularly and issuing necessary instructions. From DG Khan Police, DPO Umar Saeed Malik, SP Investigation, DSP Saddar Ejaz Ahmed Bukhari, DSP Nasir Ali Saqib and District Commander of Elite Police Force are taking part in an operation against Ladi gang.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has lauded the LEAs operation against the Ladi gang. He said the ringleader of Ladi gang has met his logical end.
He congratulated the CTD and Punjab Police and termed the death of ringleader Ladi Gang a major achievement.
“The Punjab police and CTD will continue to hunt down such people in future as well,” CM said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2021.
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