LAHORE: Four more members of the Chotoo gang surrendered to army early on Friday morning, raising the number of surrendered gangsters to 17.

The army and police have launched an operation against the gang to clear Kacha Jamal riverine area from the outlaws.

Gang leader Ghulam Rasool Chotoo and his 12 accomplices had surrendered to the army two days ago and freed 24 policemen the gang had taken hostage.

Local people confirmed that the troops continued heavy shelling on the hideouts of the gangsters who had not surrendered. Some of the bunkers of the gang were demolished due to heavy shelling. They said there could be more than 50 outlaws still fighting the forces.

A senior police official told Dawn that another gang leader, Attaullah Phhat of Mouza Kachi Umerani, Rojhan, along with his three accomplices had surrendered to army.

He said the four outlaws riding on a boat were carrying white flags in their hands and approached the army check post and surrendered.

He said that Phhat was also involved in several cases of kidnap for ransom registered against him in Rajanpur and other adjoining districts. He said Phhat was not part of Chotoo gang and he had visited the area to offer condolences on the death of Chotoo’s niece who was killed in police firing on April 14. Due to the operation and arrival of army he could not leave the island.

Meanwhile, Chotoo and his 12 accomplices had been shifted to Islamabad for interrogation.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2016