GHOTKI: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar on Tuesday visited a frontline town to see preparation of law enforcement agencies for a decisive action against dacoit gangs in riverine area first-hand.

Extending a “blanket approval”, the CM assured the Sindh police that the caretaker government would meet all their needs relating to funds, weapons and gadgets.

Chairing a meeting held to review the overall law and order situation and arrangements for the upcoming operation, the CM directed Inspector General of Sindh Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar to coordinate with his counterparts in Punjab and Balochistan.

“I have already spoken with the Punjab chief minister and he has made necessary arrangements to launch the action against dacoits as soon as when the Sindh and Balochistan police begin their operation,” he said.

Asks IGP to coordinate with police chiefs of Punjab, Balochistan before launching ‘decisive action’

The Sindh police chief assured the CM that a joint meeting of all three IGPs would be convened before the operation clean-up.

Present on the occasion were Home Minister Haris Nawaz, Sukkur DIG Hamid Khoso, Larkana DIG Javed Jaskani and SSPs of different districts of Sukkur and Larkana divisions and other officers.

14 dacoit gangs in Shikarpur, Kashmore

The CM was informed that there were 14 gangs of dacoits in the riverine area of Shikarpur and Kashmore.

Talking about the strategies, the IGP told the CM that the right men for the right job had been finalised for the placement in the clean-up operation.

The IGP said that black sheep in the police force had been identified and action against them was being taken so that the strategies and line of action of the operation might not be leaked to the dacoits.

The CM directed the police to take steps to curb honey traps.

Apart from setting up police pickets on the routes used by the “honey trappers”, he suggested deployment of policemen in plain clothes at the frequently used locations.

The IGP told the CM that they had identified 42 such points where the deployment would be made.

He said that an intelligence-based search operation at hotels, bus stops, and crossing points had been started and specialised IT teams had been working against honey-trapping.

1,680 check posts being established

The CM was also told that 1,680 police check posts were being established in the riverine area of Kashmore and Shikarpur where policemen would be deployed before the launch of the operation.

The IGP said two “mini police lines” in Kashmore and one in Shikarpur were being established. Such police lines would be used for sniper training, lodging goods, housing welfare wing, vehicles section and a kitchen.

He said that a joint control room of Kashmore and Shikarpur police would also be established for monitoring and necessary action.

Talking about the Sukkur range of police, the IGP said they had developed a three-layer blockade to contain the outlaws and disruption of their supply line.

The police raised the issue of funds and sensitive equipment and gadgets.

The Larkana DIG demanded Rs240 million to continue the operation. He said that Rs15m was required only for providing meals to the policemen deployed in the area.

The CM told them that he was giving them ‘blanket’ approval of each and every requirement on the condition of a result-oriented and decisive operation.

“I am sure that after this operation, no news of kidnapping for ransom would ever be heard,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2023