By By Imtiaz Ali
The police force of three provinces — Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan — are likely to carry out a joint operation in the bordering districts of provinces in a bid to end the incidence of “organised crime of kidnapping-for-ransom”, The News has learnt.
Sources said that this development comes in the wake of concern expressed by the provincial governments, and four senior police officers of bordering districts have been asked to do their homework regarding “selected locations for short and targeted operations”.
The provincial governments concerned may provide track APCs, night-vision goggles, life jackets and bullet-proof motor boats and other necessary equipments required for such an operation, sources said.
They said that these decisions were taken at a high-powered meeting of senior police officials from the three provinces, which was held recently in Sukkur. Sukkur Regional Police Officer (RPO) Muhammad Ramzan Channa chaired the meeting, while representatives of Rangers and security agencies were also present.
During the meeting, it was decided to set up a coordinated communication base at three identified border areas to share information about crimes, establishing joint permanent pickets between Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, obtaining satellite images of forest areas instead of relying on old maps, and strengthening existing police posts/stations. The Rangers were also urged to join the joint operation, which is likely to be carried out next month.
Realising the gravity of tribal disputes, which also compounded the security in the border areas, the participants of the meeting opined that a substantial number of arrests of those involved in the crime, irrespective of status or stature, was the only deterrent against tribal disputes.
Resolving to show zero tolerance to criminals who are residents of other districts/ provinces, the participants decided to exchange lists of absconders/proclaimed offenders on regular basis.
Sources told The News that it was also concluded in the meeting that if any armed group, miscreants/saboteurs or dacoits attack along the Kashmore-Sui Highway, Indus Highway or the border lines between provinces, the police will chase the suspects and assistance would be sought from the police of other provinces. During the hot pursuit, the police of the other province will be informed before hand, and possible assistance would be rendered to the chasing party irrespective of jurisdictions and without any loss of time.
Participants also shared the situation of crimes in their respective region/districts, and made suggestions for its control.
Bahawalpur RPO Mushtaq Sukhera informed the participants that activities of dacoits have increased along the riverine belt, with dozens of kidnapped persons from across Punjab being confined in Katcha areas (forests). He pointed out that the Katcha area between Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur known as Karachi Katcha and Machko-Ghotki Katcha area have become “safe havens” for kidnappers, while the eruption of tribal disputes in the said areas only aggravated the problem.
Sibi RPO Ghulam Shabir Shaikh demanded access to technology for the police force to help them get real time locations, Caller ID and to tap calls for tracing out organised crimes. He said that kidnapping-for-ransom is a highly organised crime, involving many tiers of criminals, and thus all resources should be at the disposal of police to deal with this crime.
Dera Ghazi Khan RPO Mubarak Athar stressed upon the need to conduct joint operation in the Katcha area of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Kashmore and Ghotki. Larkana zone DIG Sanaullah Abbasi said that operations should not be for public consumption, and that the police must learn and master the capability of small and targeted operations.
Representatives of Rangers and security agencies also highlighted the activities of armed persons and gangs in the border areas in the recent past and expressed apprehensions that these routes and supply lines may come under attack.
DPOs of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Qambar also gave briefings about the problems being faced by the police in bordering areas. They vowed to deal with the organised crime of kidnapping for ransom on war-footing by carrying out sustained operations. It was also decided to hold such joint meetings quarterly at RPO/DIG level and monthly at DPOs level.