Fingers crossed: Police unable to arrest gangsters

Kharoos Jatoi clan members snatch automobiles from Sukkur.

SUKKUR: Sukkur police seem to have made no breakthrough in their week-long campaign to dislodge alleged criminals from the katcha area of Bagarji Bello. The area predominantly consists of a forest, and borders Sukkur, Khairpur and Shikarpur districts. It also reportedly provides an opportunity to criminals to hide stolen goods like cars, motorcycles and cattle, and also helps them to change their hideout when law enforcers launch an operation in a specific district.

Sukkur police under Rohri DSP Khair Bux Panhwar had alerted Khairpur and Shikarpur police before launching the latest offensive. Police reportedly cut off logistic supplies to the outlaws, raided multiple villages in the katcha area and arrested two suspects and recovered weapons and ammunitions from them. Police were also involved in an ‘encounter’ with Jagan Jatoi and his gang for hours, but were unable to catch any of the criminals.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Sukkur commissioner Inamullah Dharejo said that criminals belonging to the Kharoos Jatoi clan snatch automobiles from Sukkur and cattle from rural areas in Upper Sindh and keep them inside the forest.

The criminals are also reportedly involved in kidnapping people for ransom from the National Highway in Khairpur.  Dharejo added that 100 commandos from Karachi were also taking part in the offensive.

Sukkur SSP Pir Mohammad Shah and Sukkur DIG Dr Ameer Ahmed Shaikh were unavailable for comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2012.