Key dacoits surrender during Katcha operation

144 criminals, including Rs120m head-money holders, turn themselves in

RAHIM YAR KHAN:

Three more dacoits have surrendered in the Kacha region of southern Punjab, bringing the total to 144, including 12 high-profile criminals carrying government-announced head money worth over Rs120 million. The wave of surrenders marks a major breakthrough in law enforcement's crackdown on organised crime in the riverine belt during the past one month.

The surrenders follow an intensive crackdown by Punjab and Sindh Police, supported by Military Intelligence, aimed at curbing kidnapping-for-ransom and other criminal activities in the riverine belt.

Over the past month, coordinated operations combined ground raids, drone surveillance, and strategic negotiations with armed groups.

Four dacoits were killed in these operations, while 40 facilitators, responsible for supplying weapons, food, and logistics to criminal networks, were arrested.

District Police Officer (DPO) Irfan Ali Samo stated that 96% of the Kacha area has been cleared, with ongoing efforts to negotiate the surrender of remaining holdouts.

Ten months of operational data reveal 136 encounters, resulting in 61 dacoits killed and 97 injured, underscoring the scale and persistence of law enforcement action.

Notable arrests include Rs1 million head money holders such as Mera Lathani, Qabil Sakhani, Morzada Dashti, and Wahab Lund, while others like Qurban Lathani and Shahbaz Kosh were apprehended carrying Rs5 million head money each.

The crackdown has brought a sense of relief to residents and the business community in Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur, who have long faced threats from criminal gangs.

Local authorities, alongside civil society groups, have emphasized that lasting peace requires not only security measures but also development initiatives, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure improvements for Kacha communities.