KPO meeting crafts strategy to curb street crime

Over 45,000 incidents reported this year alone in which 77 innocent people lost their lives

KARACHI:

The law enforcement agencies claimed on Wednesday that they have made significant headway in their pursuit of curbing the rising street crime, as they uncovered a network of 77 well-organised gangs.

These criminal syndicates, according to police, have entrenched themselves within the labyrinthine catacombs of narrow lanes in the city's slums, evading the watchful eye of justice.

In response to the alarming surge in street crime incidents, the city police convened a high-level meeting at the Karachi Police Office (KPO). Under the leadership of AIG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, DIGs, and SSPs jointly crafted a comprehensive strategy to confront the menace head-on.

The bedrock of this strategy is the resolute assignment handed to SHOs across districts, charging them with the swift apprehension of these lawbreakers. In a departure from the norm, the police have directed their laser focus towards the slums and suburbs, recognising that recent arrests indicate a strong nexus between street crime and these specific locales.

Consequently, law enforcement personnel now vigilantly man key entry and exit points of these areas to deter criminal activities.

A chilling statistic that has underscored the urgency of this operation is the alarming tally of over 45,000 reported street crime incidents this year alone. Tragically, this epidemic of violence has claimed the lives of 77 innocent citizens, including two overseas Pakistanis, at the hands of these ruthless street criminals.

Parallel to their relentless efforts against street crime, the Karachi police have unveiled a novel initiative to address unclaimed police property. In an inauguration ceremony presided over by IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, the Unclaimed Police Property Yard in Surjani Town was formally opened. This pioneering endeavour will serve as the designated ground for auctioning off old and unusable police vehicles, streamlining the process of handling such assets.

Furthermore, under the visionary directive of the IG, plans are underway to replicate this successful model by establishing additional yards in the South and East regions. As part of this drive, vehicles from West Zone districts, Central, and West police stations are being systematically relocated to the secure confines of the yard. Notably, over 7,000 unclaimed motorcycles have already found a temporary abode within its fortified walls.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2023.