LARKANA: Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon has said that most-wanted dacoits were being killed in ambushes, carried out on the basis of intelligence reports. Such targeted actions in the riverine areas of upper Sindh were continuing, he said.

The IGP was speaking to Dawn after chairing a meeting of senior police officers of Larkana and Sukkur ranges here on Sunday.

Lately, five successful ambushes were carried out in four dacoit-infested districts, he said, adding that 57 dacoits were killed within a span of six months.

The meeting took stock of the situation in the riverine areas of Kandhkot-Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts where a massive operation to wipe out criminal gangs is under way.

The law and order in the Larkana and Sukkur police ranges and future strategies to flush out dacoits from the riverine areas were also discussed.

Assures officers of APCs’ availability as per requirement

The Sukkur DIG, who holds the charge of Larkana range, and Larkana SSP gave a briefing to the IGP in the presence of the Sukkur SSP and SPs of the CTD and Special Branch.

The issue of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) also featured at the meeting.

Speaking to Dawn, the IGP refuted media reports that put the number of persons still held hostage by outlaws in the four districts at 35-40.

As a matter of fact, the number is only 15 and a verified list shows that 12 of them were kidnapped from Kandhkot-Kashmore, two from somewhere outside the district and one from Shikarpur district, according to the IGP.

He said that the outlaws had increased their criminal activities to push back the police force, but the latter were maintaining immense pressure on them.

About the “honey trap” used to kidnap people, he said the Ghotki district side had been completely blocked by police due to which the number of such cases had declined. Due to the extensive network of police pickets in Kashmore, there have now been fewer cases of physical kidnapping.

In reply to a question, he said that 190 police pickets had already been set up along the left bank of River Indus, from where the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes, to contain movement and activities of outlaws.

“In view of the success of the scheme and strategy, we are moving forward to establish police pickets along the right bank of the Indus as well.”

Regarding the issue of APCs, IGP Memon termed the vehicles ‘lifeline’ of personnel, and said that officers had been asked to let him know about their requirement and the same would be provided. “Funds for the APCs is no issue,” he said, adding that the required funds would be made available to the police.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2023