KARACHI:
Police entered the dacoit-infested thickets in the riverine area of Sukkur to safely recover 12 kidnapped persons from the lair of most wanted criminal gang after a fierce gun battle.
A large-scale operation launched on the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to dismantle criminal networks in the riverine (Katcha) areas, specifically targeting dacoits and hardened criminals, began on May 12. The initiative led to the rescue of 12 kidnapped individuals from their captors.
The operation continued into May 13 in the Bagarji Katcha area of Sukkur, where police faced intense resistance. Armed with sophisticated weaponry, including 12.7 mm machine guns, G3 rifles, submachine guns (SMGs), hand grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), the dacoits launched a fierce retaliation. Despite heavy fire, police forces destroyed several hideouts and arrested key suspects during the encounters.
The difficult terrain of the Katcha region further complicated the operation. The dacoits had dug trenches to obstruct the movement of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), and the dense forest limited police mobility. However, law enforcement pressed forward undeterred.
The scale of the operation was considerable. It involved significant personnel and equipment, including five APCs, two from the IG pool, two from Ghotki, and one from Sukkur, as well as surveillance drones providing real-time aerial monitoring. The operation was led by SSP Sukkur Azhar Khan and SSP Khairpur Hassan Sardar and included 100 police personnel, six Station House Officers (SHOs), and two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs).
Among the notable achievements of the operation was the destruction of hideouts belonging to the notorious dacoit Rajab Jatoi. Although Jatoi managed to escape, his base was reportedly reduced to ashes.
Six dacoits were injured in the operation, including Salamo Jatoi, cousin of the infamous Kashmir Jatoi, one suspected member of the Teghani gang, and four unidentified members of the Rahimo Phulpoto and Jatoi gangs. The 12 rescued hostages included nine from Khairpur and three from Sukkur.
Acting on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, police in Sukkur and Khairpur launched this decisive offensive. “The protection of citizens’ lives and property is the top priority of the provincial government, and any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated,” the chief minister said. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and urged citizens to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Budget meeting for next fiscal year
CM Murad has initiated budget meetings to finalise development proposals and allocations for the next financial year.
In this regard, two separate meetings of the Finance Department and the Planning and Development Department were held at CM House on Wednesday. These meetings were attended by Minister P&D Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, Special Secretary Finance Asghar Memon, and Member P&D Fatah Tunio.
The CM stressed on reducing non-development expenditures, increasing allocations for development projects, like K-IV water supply, Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, and transport schemes in Karachi.
CM Murad, UNICEF representative meet
CM Murad met with UNICEF Representative Abdullah A. Fadil to discuss collaborative development plans. They reviewed the current two-year workplan (2023-2024) covering health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, and other sectors.
Key initiatives include, $5.5 million project for maternal, neonatal, and child health services, Rs17.5 million project for improving nutrition and early childhood development, $3.2m program for policy reforms and child protection mechanisms, $7m partnership to reduce out-of-school children and enhance teacher skills, and $16.8m initiative for climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure.
