Curbing crime: ‘Operation against robbers won’t stop till they are arrested’

An operation against an interprovincial gang underway in DG Khan

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Police on Thursday launched an operation against an inter-provincial gang of robbers hiding in a settlement along River Sindh. Police had deployed helicams to determine their location.

A police spokesman said a team led by DPO Ghulam Mubashir Maikain had raided a hideout in Bait Sandeela on a tip-off early on Thursday morning.

He said the robbers had attacked the police team with mortars and machine guns.

He said the team had to fall back and call for back-up.

The spokesman said police teams from Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh arrived around noon and launched an operation against the robbers, forcing them to flee to kacha area nearby.

He said armoured personnel carriers, helicams, boats and other modern equipment had been deployed to ensure success of the operation.

The spokesman said the men had been surrounded and told to surrender, though they had not done so when this report was filed. He said Saddar DSP Irfan Khosa, City DSP Shahbaz Ali, Kot Chattha DSP Javed Jatoi were also participating in the operation.

The DPO told newsmen that the men were from Sindh and had been involved in dozens of robberies in Dera Ghazi Khan and its adjoining areas. He said police had expanded the operation when it was found that the men had rocket launchers and other heavy weapons.

He said the men had been surrounded. He said fire had been exchanged between police and the robbers.

He said police would not let the men escape and would not call off this operation until the men were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2015.