Punjab announces capitation for 40 Katcha gangsters – Pakistan

LAHORE: The Punjab government has identified 40 most hardened criminals from the Katcha region and announced a capitation sum based on their crime profile.

The profile and identity of the gangsters were prepared by the Punjab Police based on intelligence reports from various law enforcement agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Branch of the Punjab Police and other sources.

Punjab police have already launched a major operation in Rahim Yar Khan shortly after gunmen attacked 12 troops in a rocket attack on August 22.

Punjab police chiefs had suggested to the government that besides a large-scale operation in the riverine area, multiple strategies should be devised.

They proposed to the government to increase the principal sum for the arrest of gangsters who use the Katcha area as a base to carry out attacks on police and kidnap people for ransom.

After an extensive process, the Punjab government has identified hardened criminals operating along the Indus in Rahim Yar Khan on the west bank and Rajanpur and DG Khan on the right bank.

According to the list, the government has announced Rs 5 million each for the arrest of bandits Ayub, who is wanted in five criminal cases filed against him, Matara of Katcha Karachi in 29 cases, Farhat in 36 cases, Qurban in 23 cases, Habib in 27 cases, Hazara in 10 cases, Fiaz in 30 cases, Mouj Ali in 55 cases and Ghulam Qadir in 18 cases.

Rs 2.5 million was also set aside for the arrest of robbers, including Sabar Deen (wanted in 14 cases), Nawab (wanted in 16 cases), Shabbir (wanted in 14 cases), Zafar (wanted in 11 cases), Bahadur (wanted in 21 cases), Dost Mohamamd (wanted in 10 cases), Waqar (wanted in 11 cases), Yaseen (wanted in 21 cases), Nazir (wanted in 7 cases) and Fouj Ali (wanted in 25 cases).

The provincial government also increased the capitation fee for arresting the 20 most dangerous and notorious bandits in the Katcha areas from Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million in view of their heinous crimes, including brutal and deadly attacks on police.

They were identified as Shahid, Majeeb, Wahab, Ghani, Ahmad alias Shobi, Ahmad Rasool Baksh, Attaullah, Sabaz Ali, Qabool, Meera, Darban, Gora, Sanaullah, Tanvir, Rahab Shar, Umar Shar, Zahoor, Morzada, Gull Hassan and Sadari.

A former DPO of Rahim Yar Khan told Dawn that criminals from various gangs mainly operated from 12 Indus Islands of Rahim Yar Khan, which lie on the eastern side of the Indus River near Bhong and Sadiqabad police stations in RYK and katcha areas of Rajanpur, Kashmore and Ghotki districts.

The police officer said the Punjab police are facing difficulties due to poor accessibility in the area, which lacks important structures and other amenities like electricity, drinking water, healthcare and educational institutions.

“The main area of ​​operation of these gangs falls under the jurisdiction of PS Bhong, Ahmedpur Lamma, Saddar Sadiqabad and Kot Sabzal, who carry out attacks on police and carry out criminal activities including kidnapping for ransom,” he said.

According to the former DPO, several large-scale operations have been carried out in the past but without yielding any fruitful results as the criminals fled to the katcha areas of Sindh via the rivers.

“Once the operation is stopped and the troops are withdrawn, they will resume their activities.”

He said there was an urgent need to change the strategy from large-scale to local, targeted operations to achieve fruitful results.

The police officer revealed that the criminals were way ahead in using technology, staying connected mainly through WhatsApp and other messaging apps.

He said law enforcement agencies were unable to track them through mobile data.

He said the Punjab Police has now devised a strategy to suspend 4G mobile and data networks in katcha areas to stop covert communications of criminals and their facilitators.

Published in Dawn, August 30, 2024