ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province have said that around 63 bandits have been killed and 45 injured in an ongoing operation against criminals residing in the riverine areas of Rahim Yar Khan district, state-run media reported.
The riverine areas or “kacha” areas as they are known in the local language, have been long associated with bandits. The hostile terrains in these areas, located in Sindh and Punjab, make it difficult for law enforcers to act against criminals who take shelter here. Some of the kacha areas notorious for crimes include Ghotki, Kashmore, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
Some areas in the two provinces are so dangerous that people avoid traveling after sunset to avoid getting robbed, though police say they have cleared most “no-go areas.” In August, 12 policemen were killed when bandits attacked them with guns and rocket-propelled grenades in Rahim Yar Khan district’s riverine areas.
“The Punjab police’s intelligence-based operations are ongoing in the Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan in which 63 dangerous criminals were killed and 45 injured so for,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Sunday.
The APP quoted a Punjab Police spokesperson saying that Rahim Yar Khan Police has established permanent posts in the district’s riverine area.
“The Punjab police are present in the region with full force and extensive resources,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by the APP.
Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar said all necessary resources, including long-range weapons, vehicles and bulletproof vehicles were being utilized against criminal elements in the area.
“The intelligence-based targeted operations will continue in Kacha till the complete elimination of criminal activities,” Dr. Anwar was quoted as saying by the APP.
The state-run media said 531 citizens were prevented from being kidnapped in the kacha area so far through “vigilance at border checkpoints.” The state media said police teams will continue intelligence-based targeted operations to “completely eradicate” crimes.
