Police to add 20 new checkpoints amid Kacha dacoit resurgence

LAHORE:

In response to the resurgence of Kacha dacoits, Punjab Police has decided to establish 20 new checkpoints in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan riverine areas, aiming to bolster security measures.

The decision came following a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar.

Attended by Additional IG South Punjab Kamran Khan, RPO DG Khan Captain (retd) Sajjad Hasan Khan and other officials, the meeting focused on reinforcing the police presence in border districts with advanced logistics and equipment.

The deployment includes new APCs, thermal cameras, night vision goggles, binoculars, and quadcopters to combat criminal activities.

Addressing the gathering, IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar emphasized the need to enhance operational efficiency and intelligence-based operations against gangs and criminals in kacha and border areas.

The meeting also reviewed strategies to prevent smuggling and hoarding in inter-provincial border areas.

Highlighting the significance of utilising quadcopters to access secret shelters of criminals, Dr Usman Anwar stressed the importance of continuous intelligence-based operations to eliminate active criminal elements.

While Punjab and Sindh Police collaborated in a crackdown on Kacha areas last year, recent weeks have witnessed a surge in crimes and kidnapping incidents, prompting intensified action by both provincial forces. However, critics raise concerns over the timing of police operations during the wheat crop harvesting season, alleging that they often serve vested interests rather than upholding law and order.

The fertile land in kacha, spread over thousands of acres, presents opportunities for exploitation by influential individuals.

With proper land demarcation lacking, powerful entities often leverage muscle power to stake claims, leading to disputes and challenges for law enforcement agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2024.