Abducted police officials freed by Lund gang

LAHORE: After successful negations with Lund gang, two police officials have been freed early Wednesday, The News learnt.

According to one negotiator, at 3:30 am, the Lund gang freed two kidnapped police officials, after Rajanpur police had freed their six relatives including sister and brother-in-law of Khuda Bukhsh Lund from their custody.

He said the gang was not given Rs2 million money they had demanded. It is interesting to note that first time a Sardar from powerful Mazari clan and having important slot in the incumbent government has played a role and got freed the abducted police officials. On his behalf, the negotiators went to Lund gang and held talks with them. They brought the policemen from the Lund gang custody and handed over to the Rajanpur police. Talking to The News, a negotiator said that the abducted policemen were safe and sound. They were not tortured by the gang, he shared.

While residents of Katcha areas showed their concern that after this operation the hardened criminals will be free in these areas again. They feared that kidnapping of people for ransom will begin again and police will not be able to arrest them. As it has been observed in past that many people were kidnapped by the gangsters and police could not arrest them. The gangs have sophisticated weapons including LMGs, SMGs, Rocket Launchers etc and took benefit of Indus River. The police are not properly trained to fight with experienced gangs equipped with modern weapons. Additionally, within short span of time, gangs flee from Punjab to Sindh and Balochistan when operation against them starts.

To control hardcore criminals of Katcha areas of District Rajanpur on the border of Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh an important meeting was held on May 2019 at the Federal Ministry of Interior, Islamabad Secretariat. Provincial Secretaries, inspectors general and representatives of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Counterterrorism Department (CTD) had participated.

In the meeting it was discussed that Police of three provinces would be provided latest weapons. Ways of escape of hardened criminals would be stopped at any cost. Additionally, 500 personnel of Katcha Force would be recruited. The joint efforts of the law-enforcement agencies of the three provinces to curb the BLA and criminal activities were also discussed in the meeting. It was decided that IGP of the provinces would meet once in a year. RPO of the division would also meet while DPOs deployed in tri-borders districts will meet after every two months. If it is implemented, the situation of law and order could be controlled.