THIS is with reference to the report ‘11 cops martyred in Katcha area rocket ambush’ (Aug 23). The riverine areas straddling Sindh and Punjab are back in the news following the incident in Machka area close to Rahim Yar Khan. The horrific killing occurred because the police had killed a dacoit a few weeks earlier.

Reports indicated that the police party was ambushed with rockets. The remote area, where life moves in 19th-century conditions, has dacoits possessing army-grade weapons of the 21st century. The question is: who provides these bandits with as lethal and potent weapons as rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-aircraft guns in areas that lack in the most basic of facilities?

The police subsequently claimed that the main culprit had been neutralised, and a few suspects had been injured. Why does the administration wait for a tragedy to strike before launching these operations? Why do they delay action until after an atrocity occurs?

Military operations were also launched in the 1990s and again in 2016, but these culprits seem to bounce back every time, indicating that the government’s approach is flawed. These outlaws have turned ransom and honey traps into a thriving business.

Unfortunately, horrible events from the backwater are quickly forgotten as other stories dominate the news cycle. There-fore, the administrations of Sindh and Punjab should not wait for another atrocity to occur. Instead, they should ensure essential coordination among security agencies and intelligence to end this ‘bandit rule’. Efforts should also be made to neg-otiate with patrons and sympathisers of the culprits, and if such links are established, those found guilty should be served due justice. Undoubtedly, it is the duty of the state to ensure education, healthcare and job opportunities. Such initiatives may encourage the locals to avoid the temp-tation of joining the ranks of the outlaws.

Amir Hussain
Ghotki

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2024