RAHIM YAR KHAN: Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal says kidnap-for-ransom incidents have been controlled in the region and the robbers of Katcha area have now taken shelter in Sindh from where they are carrying out their activities.

He stated this during his visit to the Katcha areas of Bhong and Machka where he inspected under-construction police check posts on Friday.

Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer Rai Babar Saeed and Commissioner Nadir Chattha, Rahim Yar Khan DPO Rizwan Umar Gondal and DC Khurram Parvez welcomed the home secretary.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mengal expressed satisfaction with the police performance and reiterated commitment of the Punjab government to provide all resources to police against the criminals. He said these areas were affected for decades by the Katcha area criminals who had made them their hideouts.

Claims that gangs were eliminated from Punjab areas

The home secretary said a grand operation was launched on a strategic heatmap and police destroyed gangs hideouts while 40 dangerous gangsters met their end and hundreds were arrested. In the operation, he said, three police personnel laid down their lives while 20 earned the title of Ghazi.

However, from their hideouts in Sindh, the gangsters were using innovative methods, including honey traps, to trap the victims, Mr Mengal warned and added that an awareness campaign had been launched to warn people travelling to Sindh. He claimed that anti-honey trap teams had saved 429 people from being kidnapped.

The home secretary met the police personnel posted on the frontlines in Machka.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal held a meeting with RPO retired Capt Sajjad Hasan Khan at the Regional Police Office and discussed law and order situation. He lauded police for repelling a terrorist attack on a police check post at Hazrat Farooq (Jhangi). Necessary amendments to the child rape and honour killing laws were also discussed.

The RPO gave a briefing to the home secretary.

After reviewing the security measures and the law and order situation across the region, he issued orders to use all-out resources to restore peace in the riverine areas. Deputy Commissioner Maher Shahid Zaman Lak was also present.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2024