Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar on Wednesday visited an embankment established in the riverine (Kutcha) area of Ronti in Ghotki, as well as the Khambhra Camp in Punjab, where he reviewed security arrangements and the overall law and order situation in the area.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho accompanied him on the visit. The home minister received a comprehensive briefing on the ongoing massive operation ‘Nijat Mehran’ in the riverine belt. DIG Nasir Aftab and Brigadier Nadeem of the Sindh Rangers informed the home minister about the operation’s objectives, strategy, progress and challenges. They also highlighted the use of modern technology, drone surveillance and intelligence-based operations.
Lanjar made it clear that there would be no space for those challenging the writ of the state. He stated that anyone who refused to surrender would not escape the law and would be eliminated, while those who surrendered would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
He once again offered criminal elements the opportunity to lay down their arms and submit to the authorities, warning that otherwise they should be prepared for strict action. He announced that a major surprise would soon be given to the dacoits and that the provision of modern weapons, advanced drones and other equipment would begin shortly. He directed the authorities to demolish the hideouts of criminals and take stern action against their facilitators.
He stated that the operation Nijat Mehran would continue with full force until the complete restoration of the state’s writ in the riverine areas, and the Sindh government was determined to continue action until the last dacoit had been eliminated. He added that, except for two locations, most riverine areas had been cleared. Appreciating the high morale and bravery of the Sindh police and Rangers personnel, he termed the forward movement towards advanced positions a significant and decisive step.
Lanjar said the vision of President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari for restoring peace in the riverine areas would be fulfilled. He also noted that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was providing full support to the Sindh police for the mega operation.
Briefing the home minister, DIG Aftab stated that since the launch of the riverine operation, a total of 27 dacoits had been killed and 82 injured across Sukkur and Larkana ranges. In these two police ranges, 78 dacoits had been arrested, while 152 had surrendered, he added.
Lanjar was informed that during various operations, 17 kidnapped persons were recovered and 87 modern weapons seized. In the Sukkur Range, 20 dacoits had been killed and 62 injured so far, with 11 of the fatalities recorded in police encounters in Sukkur district alone.
Police arrested 41 dacoits, while 88 surrendered in the Sukkur Range, 50 of them belonged to Ghotki district. During the operations in the Sukkur Range, nine kidnapped persons were recovered and 55 modern weapons were seized.
In the Larkana Range, seven dacoits had been killed and 20 injured so far, and operations continued vigorously in Shikarpur and Kashmore districts. Across the range, 37 dacoits were arrested and 64 surrendered before the law. Eight kidnapped persons were safely recovered and 32 different types of weapons were seized.
