Law and order: Hideouts, tunnels uncovered in DG Khan operation

Pickets with biometric checking have been set up

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Dera Ghazi Khan police on Saturday destroyed several hideouts of Aziza Girwar gang in Kacha area in Bait Sandila near River Indus and set up pickets to check commuters there as the operation against the gang continued for the third day.

DPO Ghulam Mubashir told The Express Tribune that policemen at the pickets had been given biometric machines to check people entering the district.

He said police had taken over five hideouts of the gang in addition to the three uncovered on Friday. He said all of these had been destroyed. The DPO said Muzaffargarh police and the Elite Force were taking part in the operation.

Mubashir said boats had been deployed to monitor the river.

He said during the ground operation, police had uncovered 12 tunnels dug up to six metres from where the gang members had fired mortars at the police.

He said the two sides had exchanged fire throughout Friday night. He said some police cars had been damaged but there were no injuries on the police side.

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.

The DPO said the gang was believed to be hiding in the forest around Bhati Metla in Shah Saddardin.

He said security across the district had been heightened and traffic entering and leaving the zone was being monitored.

Mubashir 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. He said the men were armed with rocket launchers, mortars and other heavy weapons.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2015.