KARACHI: Police launched a major operation in the riverine Katcha area of Sukkur on May 12 to dismantle criminal gangs, successfully rescuing 12 kidnapped individuals after a fierce gunfight with dacoits.
The offensive, ordered by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, targeted notorious criminal networks in the region. The dacoits, armed with heavy weaponry including 12.7 mm machine guns, G3 rifles, SMGs, hand grenades, and RPGs, fiercely resisted police forces, who destroyed several hideouts and arrested key suspects during the encounters.
The challenging terrain of the Katcha region, with trenches dug by dacoits and dense forests limiting police mobility, complicated the operation. Police used five armoured personnel carriers and surveillance drones for real-time aerial monitoring. The operation was led by SSP Sukkur Azhar Khan and SSP Khairpur Hassan Sardar with 100 police personnel, six SHOs, and two DSPs involved.
Among the injured were six dacoits, including Salamo Jatoi, cousin of the infamous Kashmir Jatoi, and members of the Teghani, Rahimo Phulpoto, and Jatoi gangs. The rescued hostages included nine from Khairpur and three from Sukkur. The base of notorious dacoit Rajab Jatoi was destroyed, though he escaped.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized the provincial government’s commitment to protecting citizens and urged the public to report suspicious activities.
Budget meetings for the next fiscal year were held at CM House to finalize development proposals, focusing on reducing non-development expenditures and increasing allocations for key projects such as the K-IV water supply, Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, and transport schemes in Karachi.
In a separate meeting, CM Murad met UNICEF Representative Abdullah A. Fadil to discuss ongoing development projects covering health, nutrition, education, child protection, and climate-resilient infrastructure, including multimillion-dollar initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health services and reducing out-of-school children.
