Army, police to launch anti-dacoit operation

Apex committee also decides to tackle street crime, drug cartels, illegal hydrants

KARACHI:

Alarmed by a sharp increase in incidents of kidnapping for ransom in Sindh, the provincial apex committee on Friday approved the launch of a comprehensive operation in collaboration with the Pakistan Army and Rangers to cleanse the riverine areas of Sukkur and Larkana divisions of dacoits.

This decision was taken during the 28th meeting of the apex committee, which comprises top civil and military officials, at the Chief Minister House in Karachi with Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (Retd.) Maqbool Baqar in the chair.

The committee also decided to tackle street crime, drug cartels, and illegal hydrants in Karachi. It resolved to resume the halted construction work on the Ghotki-Kashmore Bridge over the Indus River.

CM Baqar emphasised that the elimination of dacoits and the crackdown on street criminals, drug mafias, and illegal hydrants would help rebuild public trust in the government and its institutions. He directed the IG Sindh Police to improve the overall condition of police stations in the city.

The CM expressed disappointment that katcha area dacoits have stopped the construction of the Ghotki-Kashmore Bridge. In response, Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar directed the paramilitary Rangers and the police to immediately provide security to the workers at the site.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, including Brig (Retd.) Haris Nawaz, Omer Soomro, Corps Commander Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, DG Rangers Major Gen Azhar Waqas, PSCM Hassan Naqvi, Home Secretary Iqbal Memon, IG Police Riffat Mukhtar, AIG Karachi Khadim Rind, and Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput, among others.

Law and order situation

Home Minister Nawaz and IG Riffat Mukhtar provided an overview of the law and order situation, particularly focusing on increasing cases of kidnapping for ransom. They reported that in 2023, a total of 220 persons were kidnapped - 128 in Larkana, 46 in Sukkur, 42 in Karachi, three in Hyderabad, and one in Shaheed Benazirabad. Out of these, 210 individuals have been rescued. Police are actively working on the remaining 10 cases.

There are 50 to 60 notorious dacoits living in the katcha area, while the rest are their tribal associates, the IG said, adding that they have prepared the list for the upcoming operation.

Operation Plan

Rangers have been deployed alongside police for these operations, including a crackdown on arms trafficking. The first cache of military-grade weapons was seized in Ghotki. Intelligence agencies are also providing support to the operation.

The operation requires sophisticated military-grade weapons, such as sniper rifles, grenade launchers, mortars, night vision devices, and drones. An NOC for the purchase of these weapons is pending with the ministries of interior and defence.

The corps commander confirmed his clearance for this, pending the issuance of a formal NOC by the minister for interior.

 

Street Crime

AIG Karachi Khadim Rind said 85,502 cases of street crime were reported in 2022. In 2023, 61,098 cases have been reported until September 17.

The committee decided to launch a joint operation against street criminals and drug cartels. The committee approved frequent combing operations in the slum areas and increased snap-checking during peak hours.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2023.