The newly posted Sukkur DIG Javed Alam Odho felt that it will take some time to eliminate crime from the region, saying that ‘Rome was not built in a day’.
In his first ever press conference as Sukkur DIG, Odho was hopeful that with the coordinated efforts of young and promising officers, the police will be able to root out crime from the region. He hinted at going on the offensive against the criminals in Sukkur and added that the Bagarji operation, which was launched against outlaws in the first week of May, will continue. However, he added that there may be slight tweaks in its strategy.
During the last couple of days, the police have made several high profile arrests, which include busting a gang of highway robbers in Khairpur. According to him, during an encounter with highway robbers, the police killed one of the dacoits and arrested the rest of the gang. He said that due to their impressive performance in the raid, the members of the police team were given commendation certificates and a cash reward of Rs100,000.
The DIG then informed that, during a joint operation on Sunday by the Ghotki and Punjab police, three wanted criminals were killed, including Mir Hazar Shar, the brother of notorious dacoit Sulto Shar. He also added that the Sukkur police also arrested a gang of kidnappers.
Odho then went on to give further details of the police’s achievements in Sukkur from May 25 to June 2, claiming that 190 absconders and 25 proclaimed offenders have been arrested. During the period, 18 encounters took place, in which five criminals were killed and 25 arrested, he claimed. Odho also added that two Kalashnikovs and 28 other weapons were recovered from the possession of the arrested criminals, as well as three stolen motorcycles and a car.
He then went on to discuss the rise in crime in the Khairpur district and said that since it is the largest district in the region, fighting crime in Khairpur is a much bigger challenge. He was of the view that at least two more SPs should be posted in the district to improve the situation. Talking about the increase in kidnapping for ransom cases in the Khairpur district, DIG Odho said that the number of kidnapped persons had gone up to 22, out of which as many as 18 have been recovered.
Replying to a question that most of the kidnapped are released after payment of ransom, the DIG said that the families of the victims tend to make a deal with the kidnappers without the knowledge of the police and such deals should not reflect on their performance as they have no say in the matter.
Odho urged civilians to have confidence in the police and felt that if the families of the kidnapped do not get pressured into paying a ransom for release, then the police would be able to rescue them.
Odho also asked the media to appreciate the police if they perform their duties well and vice versa if officials are found to be corrupt.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2014.
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There is no criminal, Except police it self. All organised crimes are done under their supervision. There should be law that any crime supported by any police officer will get equal punishment, and any crime promoted by any judge also should get equal punishement.