LAHORE: The drones operated by the Sindh Police are more advanced and effective than those used by the Punjab Police, The News has learnt.
According to a senior official in the Home Department, the issue came up during a discussion with the Additional Inspector General (IG), South Punjab, regarding recent operations against ‘Katcha’ area gangsters. The official asked why the Punjab Police were unable to carry out drone attacks against notorious gangs whereas the Sindh Police successfully used them to destroy dacoit hideouts in Katcha Jamal and Katcha Karachi that resulted in the killing of several gangsters.
In response, the Additional IG, South Punjab, reportedly said the drones used by the Sindh Police were more advanced and effective than those available to the Punjab Police. He said the Sindh Police drones were capable of pinpoint targeting, enabling them to destroy hideouts and kill dacoits during operations in Punjab as well.
DPO Rajanpur Muhammad Imran told The News that the operation was conducted by the Sindh Police with the assistance of Punjab Police. He said the arms used in the drones were also far more advanced than those with the Punjab Police. He added that Punjab Police drones were modern as well and that future operations would involve drones to eliminate gangsters and save the lives of police personnel.
Responding to a question about whether the Sindh Police had obtained permission to operate inside Punjab’s territory, the DPO explained that the gangsters had kidnapped 19 people working on a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project from Sindh and moved to the riverine areas of Rajanpur. He said the Sindh Police pursued the gangsters and carried out the operation with the participation of Punjab Police from four districts and recovered all the abductees. During the operation, key members of the Indhar, Lolai and Bakhrani gangs were killed. However, there was no confirmed information about the death or whereabouts of Indhar gang leader Tanveer Ahmed, he added.
According to the DPO, the operation was well coordinated. After clearing the Karachi Katcha and Katcha Jamal areas of gangsters, the Rajanpur Police remained deployed there. The DPO reiterated that operations against the gangsters would continue.
