CM approves decisive action against dacoits

Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Tuesday reviewed arrangements in Ghotki district for what he termed as a ‘decisive’ operation against bandits infesting the riverine area.

Accompanied by Home Minister Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz and Inspector General Police Riffat Mukhtar Raja, the CM chaired a meeting in this regard with DIG Sukkur Hamid Khoso, DIG Larkana Javed Jaskani and SSPs of different districts of the two divisions.

He said the province’s police should remain in contact with their counterparts in Punjab and Balochistan. The dacoits were holed up at strategic locations on inter-provincial borders taking advantage of different jurisdictions.

He said the dacoits, hiding in the forests along the Indus River, slip into Sindh when the Punjab police take action against them and when the Sindh police chase them they escape to their Punjab hideouts.

Baqar was briefed at the meeting that some 14 gangs of dacoits have taken refuge in the katcha area of Shikarpur and Kashmore-Kandhkot districts. The IGP said in the lead-up to the operation clean-up, police are analyzing the call data records (CDRs) of criminals, their relatives, the B-parties and facilitators. He was assured that the black sheep in
the police department have been identified and the corrupt will face disciplinary action.

Mukhtar said the intelligence-based search operations at hotels, bus stops and other crossing points have been started and that the specialised teams of information technology experts have been working on the honey traps.

According to the top cop of Sindh, 1,680 police check posts are being established in the riverine areas of Kandhkot-Kashmore and Shikarpur where deployment would be made before launching the operation. A joint control room will also be set up for the two districts.

The IGP apprised that two mini-police lines are also being established in the two districts to provide training to snipers in addition to the lodging facilities, welfare wing, MT Section and a kitchen. He said that a joint control room of Kashmore and Shikarpur would also be established for monitoring and necessary action.

He claimed that three bandits have been killed, 13 injured and 26 arrested in the two divisions recently. According to him, the Sukkur Range police have developed a three-layer blockade.

Responding to the concern about the availability of the required funds, the CM said he has given a ‘blanket’ approval for the operation and that every requirement for the purpose will be met.

Sukkur visit

The CM suspended Ghulam Mohammad Mahar College Hospital Sukkur Medical Superintendent Muhammad Rafique Memon and hospital’s finance director and also ordered a forensic audit of the health facility’s accounts.

Baqar went from ward to ward, interacted with patients and received largely dissatisfactory feedback about the health services. The administration failed to produce records of local purchases of medicine and other equipment.

The CM’s inspection of the kitchen revealed the pathetic condition and also the fact that the food was not being prepared there for the patients on a regular basis.

Baqar expressed dismay over the performance of Principal Ghulam Mohammad Mahar Medical College. The forensic audit and inquiry into the alleged graft will be conducted by Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment.

Meanwhile, accompanied by Home Minister Nawaz, the CM visited the C-Section police station and found the place in shambles. Parts of the structure seemed crumbly after the 2022 monsoon rains and the doors of the weaponry and malkhana appeared eaten by termite.

He expressed displeasure that the DIG, SSP and the DSPs do not inspect the buildings of the police stations regularly.

He also visited Darul Aman where some 24 inmates are staying and appeared displeased by the living conditions. The beds lacked bedsheets and pillow covers and the rooms were stinking badly. The inmates also complained against the administration. The CM directed the commissioner Sukkur division to make the facility a livable place and establish a room for watching TV.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2023.