Punjab Police clear 90pc of Katcha area after a decade

• Full-scale operation in riverine belt forced 139 dacoits, including 12 most-wanted with head money to lay down arms
• Two dacoits killed in surgical operations against holdouts as drone strikes destroy underground bunkers in riverine belt
• Katcha areas of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur largely reclaimed as Punjab IG lauds police bravery, professionalism in major success

LAHORE/RAHIM YAR KHAN: Punjab Police, in coordination with other law-enforcement agencies, has cleared 90 percent of the Katcha area of Rahim Yar Khan after nearly a decade, as part of an ongoing full-scale operation against criminal elements in the riverine belt, a police spokesperson confirmed.

Providing details in a statement, a Punjab Police spokesperson said that during recent operations, reports had been received of more dacoits being injured as a result of drone strikes, while several underground bunkers used by the criminals had been destroyed.

During the ongoing operation in Katcha, two dacoits have been killed, while a total of 139 dacoits have laid down their arms and surrendered to law-enforcement agencies. The spokesperson said that 12 most-wanted dacoits, carrying head money declared by the Government of Punjab, had also surrendered so far.

The Punjab Police spokesperson further said that overall 90 percent of the Katcha areas of Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur have now been cleared of dacoits after approximately 10 years, marking a major breakthrough in restoring writ of the state in the region.

Rahim Yar Khan Irfan Ali Samo DPO said that surgical strikes were continuing against dacoits who refused to surrender before the law. He said that many criminals had been killed, while a large number had abandoned the world of crime by laying down their arms. He added that surrendered dacoits would be investigated strictly on merit and provided full opportunity to seek justice through the courts.

Meanwhile, Punjab IG Police Dr Usman Anwar, while appreciating the successful and effective actions against Katcha criminals, commended the Rahim Yar Khan Police and praised the professional skills, courage and bravery of the force.