Operation begins in ‘katcha’ area

Suspected dacoit killed, policeman injured in ambush of IG’s convoy

RAHIM YAR KHAN/ LAHORE:

A grand police operation got underway in Rahim Yar Khan’s Katcha area on Sunday to cleanse the area of the criminals and anti-state elements.

During the first battle of the operation on its first day, an alleged dacoit was killed while a policeman sustained injuries.

The battle started when the convoy of the Punjab Inspector General of Police, Dr. Usman Anwar, who is heading the operation, came under attack, ensuing an exchange of fire between the police and the dacoits.

Police arrested six alleged dacoits during the encounter. The RPO of Bahawalpur, Rai Babar Saeed, and the DPO of Rahim Yar Khan, Rizwan Omar Gondal, were assisting the Punjab IGP in the operation.

Sindh Police were also starting an operation in their areas, said Dr. Usman Anwar while addressing a press conference at the office of the DPO in Rahim Yar Khan.

The operation was launched in the light of the orders of the National Security Committee, said the police chief.

Police checkpoints had been fully restored in the Katcha area, and advancement was being made to clear the interior of anti-social elements, the Punjab IGP said.

“The writ of the state and the rule of law will be restored by completely stamping out the hideouts of the criminals from the Katcha area,” said the police chief.

More than 5,000 police personnel from several districts had been dispatched to Rahim Yar Khan, and fresh troops would take the front-line roles.

At least 11,000 policemen participated in the operation. The head constable who had sustained injuries during the encounter was moved to Lahore for treatment. The IGP told the press conference in Rahim Yar Khan that 2,000 soldiers had been sent from Punjab for the operation.

He said that intelligence-based operations had been going on for some time, while today a fully-fledged operation was being launched to clear the interior areas of the anti-social elements.

The police chief said that the morale of the police Jawans was very high, and all the anti-social elements would be eliminated once and for all.

The IGP said that modern weapons and armored vehicles would also be used in the operation.

The police chief told the press conference about the recovery of two children in Khanpur as a manifestation of the police’s outstanding skills and professionalism.

He announced a cash reward of Rs1.2 million and certificates of appreciation for DPO Rizwan Umar Gondal and his team.

Meanwhile, Dr Usman Anwar visited the residence of Dr. Hassan Mehmood, a former superintendent of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital of Rahim Yar Khan, whose kidnapped children were recovered by Rahim Yar Khan Police. The IGP met with the two sons who had recently been recovered by Rahim Yar Khan Police.

Suspected criminals from Kacha had kidnapped Dr. Mahmood’s sons.

He also announced establishment of a new police station in Khanpur.

The IGP said that the Special Branch and the CTD had been jointly working to root out crimes, especially robberies and kidnappings for ransom, in the Kacha area.

For last few months, the incidents of kidnapping for ransom had been on the rise. The victims were taken to the Kacha areas where they were held hostage while their relatives contacted and demands for ransom made.

Just a few weeks ago, an elderly man, who was the father of a doctor, hailing from Chung in Lahore, had been abducted.

The victim had been on his way to Khushab from Thokar Niaz Beg when he fell victim to the kidnappers.

Later, his family got a call for ransom from the dacoits who had been hiding somewhere in the Kacha area.

In another case, a man and his elderly uncle from Liaqatabad had also been kidnapped for ransom by dacoits from the Kacha area when they had been on their way to attend a wedding ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2023.