IG ups the ante against robbers in riverine areas

As Inspector General Sindh police Ghulam Nabi Memon has expressed the resolve to up the ante of operation against the dacoits infesting riverbed areas in Ghotki and Kashmor districts, one of the family among the five martyred cops is accusing black sheep in the police for the killings.

Talking to the media after offering condolences to the bereaved families in Ghotki on Monday, the IG vowed that the police will give a befitting response to November 5 martyrdom of a DSP, two SHOs and two constables allegedly by dacoits in Ranoti area in Ubauro.

"The nature of duty is such that we suffer losses some times," the province's police chief said. He shared that the police are revisiting their strategy and that proper surveillance of the hideouts of dacoits and better intelligence collection will precede the impending operation.

He contended that the honourable police are the one which accept the challenge. "The public always appreciates such police which challenge the criminals. I am happy Ghotki police have challenged the dacoits and they never take their dictations."

He asserted that morale of the police force is high, adding that Ghotki district's police have a record of fighting against the dacoits and restoring peace in the district which borders Punjab. He said the Sindh police we will look after families of the martyred cops.

Meanwhile, an FIR was registered under Anti-Terrorism Act at Ubauro police station on the complaint of SHO Ubauro Asghar Aiwan. The alleged dacoits Rahib Shar, Soomro Shar, Sanaullah Shar and Janu Indhar are among 70 suspects booked in the case for killing five policemen and injuring four other cops.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Abdul Malik Bhutto, SHO Deen Muhammad Laghari, SHO Abdul Malik Kamangar and constables Jatoi Pitafi and Saleem Chachar embraced martyrdom in the attack. Their dead bodies were recovered four to five hours later from captivity of the dacoits who attacked the police with rocket launchers and automatic rifles. The police say they were conducting an operation to recover three kidnapped persons, including two children of Panhwar community, who were abducted last week.

Police blamed

Abdul Waris Bhutto, brother of martyred DSP Bhutto, alleged that some black sheep in the police force are responsible for the killings. "We have come to know that the police team was present in that area for three days with large police contingents," he said. "But where those contingents suddenly disappeared and only a few cops were left behind we don't know."

According to him, the team led by his brother was left in the katcha area without a backup. He claimed that the dacoits lured the police through some of their own men in the force, assuring that they would release the captives.

"The martyrdom is certainly from the Almighty god but the deception which has been done [by some policemen] should be exposed and punished." He argued that without involvement of the force's own men it was not possible for dacoits to kill five cops.

He demanded an impartial inquiry of the incident and fixing responsibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2022.