Police action: Operation against gang continues

Three gang hideouts uncovered, two injured in police shooting

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Dera Ghazi Khan police said on Friday two wanted men had been injured as the operation in Kacha area continued for the second consecutive day.

District Police Officer (DPO) Ghulam Mubashir told The Express Tribune that police had identified hideouts of Aziza Girwar gang through the use of helicams. He said police had cleared five kilometres along River Sindh in Bait Sadeela in a day-long operation. He said three gang hideouts were uncovered in the operation.

The DPO said the men had been asked to surrender a number of times but they had attacked policemen with rocket launchers and mortars. He said firing had been exchanged between the two sides throughout the day. He said no policeman had been injured in the operation.

He said when police entered one of the hideouts, police had found bloodstained binoculars by a window. He said blood was also found in several windows, leading them to believe that at least three men had been injured.

“They took their injured comrades and hid in the forest near Bhatimetla in Shah Saddardin area,” he said.

He said 500 policemen were taking part in the operation. He said armoured personnel carriers, helicams, boats and other modern equipment had been deployed to ensure success of the operation.

He said the Aziza Girwar gang was an associate of Chotu Mazari Gang. He said its members were wanted for dozens of robberies, kidnappings for ransom and murders.

The DPO said the operation was launched after a team led by him had raided a hideout on Thursday morning. “We received information from a member of Chotu gang when he was arrested a few days ago. He told us where the Girwar Gang was hiding in Dera Ghazi Khan. “The men attacked the police team in an attempt to flee,” he said.

He said police had expanded the operation when it was learnt that the men had rocket launchers and other heavy weapons.

The DPO said the operation would continue till the men were arrested. He said Saddar DSP Irfan Khosa, City DSP Shahbaz Ali, Kot Chattha DSP Javed Jatoi were also participating in the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.