No-go areas in Katcha led to operation: DG ISPR

RAJANPUR: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Wednesday that gangster Ghulam Rasool alias Chhotu, his accomplices, wife and children had been taken into custody after Chhotu unconditionally surrendered before the troops and released all the 24 policemen earlier taken hostage.

He said that three gangs were still in the area and the Pak Army troops would remain till they were overpowered. He said that there were no-go areas in the Katcha areas of Rajanpur, which is why the Pakistan Army had to launch an operation there.

All the 24 policemen held hostage by the gangsters had been released, he said.The DG ISPR said that the troops would remain on the island to dismantle all the bunkers and apprehend the remaining members of the gang.

The families of the dacoits had been recovered safely from the island. Among them are 24 women and 44 children, he said.—INP

Nadeem Shah adds: The surrender materialised some time around midnight on Tuesday before the expiry of the army’s deadline to launch the final attack on the criminal gangs.Sources revealed that security personnel would investigate Chhotu for his political backing, his connections with sectarian outfits and his involvement in arms smuggling from India.

Intelligence reports suggest that the Chhotu gang has been instrumental in supplying heavy weapons brought from India through the Cholistan border to the Katcha areas across the Indus between Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur and onwards to Balochistan via Sui to the Baloch separatists.

Security sources, however, rule out Indian weapon smuggling from Afghanistan, saying, “The Cholistan route is safer than Afghanistan.” The arms supply has been a cause of poor law and order in the south Punjab and Balochistan areas.

The sources say the troops surrounded the Katcha area when Ghulam Rasool announced his surrender and army personnel went inside the island where Chhotu and his accomplices laid down their arms and released the captive policemen.

The operation against the Chhotu gang continued in the Katcha areas of Rahimyar Khan and Rajanpur districts for 24 days.The Punjab Police carried out eight operations against the Chhotu gang for 17 days. Seven policemen were killed while  were taken hostage by the Chhotu gang.

Army troops moved into the conflict area between Rahimyar Khan and Rajanpur on Friday last and took over the area on Sunday last. Security personnel had given the Chhotu gang two days to surrender and release hostages. Army troops, Rangers and police finalised the last offensive and started closing in on Katcha Jamal, Katcha Karachi and Katchi Moro areas to launch the final attack against the criminals two days ago. Emergency measures were in place in district hospitals for the injured persons. 

The Multan II Strike Corps's 33 Punjab Regiment and Special Services Group of Zarar Company took part in the operation against Chhotu gang. Seven companies of paramilitary Punjab Rangers were deployed in Rahimyar Khan and Rajanpur.

The Chhotu gang had captured the island located in the middle of the Indus near Rojhan tehsil years back. The island consists of Katchi Hyderabad towards Guddo Barrage, Katcha Karachi towards Rajanpur and Katchi Jamal towards Rojhan tehsil.