DERA GHAZI KHAN: After the deadly attack on policemen in the riverine area of Rahim Yar Khan, which claimed the lives of 12 personnel returning home after their duty, the decades-old issue of bandits in the region has once again come into the spotlight.

This tragic event has sparked renewed calls for a comprehensive solution to restore peace in the area.

One proposed approach involves disarming the local inhabitants and transforming the region into a food basket through the introduction of corporate farming, similar to the efforts of Sir John Jacob, the founder of the city of Jacobabad.

When Sir Jacob arrived in the area of Khangarh (Sindh), a village then and Jacobabad district now, in 1841, it was under the grip of lawlessness. He engaged the hostile tribes by offering them employment in the development of their own area, including digging canals and constructing roads and buildings. This strategy played a pivotal role in restoring peace and prosperity to the region. In return, after Sir John Jacob’s demise, the people of the area began lighting clay lamps on his grave as an expression of gratitude and started calling Khangarh as Jacobabad.

British military officer engaged warring tribes and brought peace to Jacobabad area

Dilemma of Katcha area of Rahim Yar Khan and Rujhan Mazari (in Rajanpur district), has been existing since long despite launching of several large scale operations and intelligence-based operations by law enforcement agencies.

At least 40,000 acres of land of riverine area of Rujhan Mazari is under the control of gangsters of at least six gangs --Lound, Dullani , Sikhani , Lathani, Umerani and Bangyani. They lived there with their families and do farming in their respective areas.

Spokesperson of Rajanpur police said law enforcement agencies had been conducting operations against criminal gangs of riverine area since 1996. He said Rajanpur police have retrieved 25,000 acres of land out of 33,000 acres of land in the control of alleged gangs .

Renowned Seraiki poet, intellectual and political activist Ashiq Khan Buzdar, a native of Rajanpur, says the root cause the problem is clash of interest among influential tribal elders who once used police against their rivals in lodging false cases against those residing in the riverine area following land reforms made in 70s during the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto rule. “With the passage of time the infighting produced gangs.”

Talking to Dawn about riverine areas of Rujhan, Buzdar said there was a dire need of to end bloody clashes among rival clans of riverine area by the efforts of tribal elders. Secondly, cell phone and internet services should be discontinued in the area. He said land disputes should be settled by the revenue department as soon as possible.

The geography of the area is also playing an important role in the survival of criminals of riverine areas of Rujhan Mazari, the last tehsil of Punjab located on the confluence of Sindh and Balochistan. Gangsters used to hide in adjacent riverine areas of Sindh during operations in Punjab .

Buzdar said Sir John Jacob model to restore peace and prosperity in the area was the most viable model .

In this regard there should be a permanent inter-provincial check posts to halt the movement of criminals.

A retired police officer said capacity building of LEAs was must. They should be trained to build fortified pickets and base camps having provision of modern facilities. He said roads and bridges be built for easy accessibility.He said the formation of a dedicated police force for riverine areas by recruiting local tribes was vital.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2024