ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: As gangster Ghulam Rasool, alias Chotoo, and his men surrendered to the Pakistan Army after three days of deliberations with elders and influentials of Rajanpur district, the military said on Wednesday that it would remain in the riverine area till it was completely cleared of all outlaws.

“This area would not be vacated till all dacoits surrender or action against them is completed. They have to be captured alive or dead,” chief military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said. “We will clear all no-go areas wherever they are existing.”

Lt Gen Bajwa, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, was briefing the media on Operation Zarb-e-Ahan after the Chotoo gang leader and his 12 accomplices laid down their arms and surrendered to military troops.

All 24 policemen held hostage by the gang were also safely recovered.

He said that Chotoo and his men surrendered “unconditionally”. They were taken into custody and would be investigated by intelligence agencies. The gangsters would remain with the agencies till the probe was completed, he added.

Intelligence agencies will grill Ghulam Rasool, alias Chotoo, till completion of probe

Besides the 13 gangsters there were 24 women, 44 children and four elderly persons with the gang.

The operation was launched by the Punjab police some 24 days ago in Kacha Jamal, the riverine area between Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan, which had been a no-go area for a decade or so.

When the Chotoo gang killed six policemen and took 24 others hostage some five days ago, the Punjab government sought help from the army which on April 16 took over the charge of the operation. After consultation with locals and other law enforcement agencies, the elders and influential people were given a mandate for dialogue with the Chotoo gang.

Sources said that the elders were asked to ensure the release of all the 24 hostage policemen safely and Chotoo and his gang members had to surrender to the army unconditionally.

They said that Ghulam Rasool alias Chotoo informed their interlocutors that he or his accomplices would never stand up against army. “That is why not a single bullet was fired by any of the gang member,” said a source.

The sources said that Chotoo expressed reservations about being declared a terrorist and also sought amnesty for the families of his gang members.

After three days of deliberations, he along with his accomplices surrendered to the army.

In his media briefing, the ISPR chief said that the immediate target was to ensure the safe recovery of hostages and avoid collateral damage.

About the island where the gang had taken refuge, the spokesman said that it was difficult to access because of water.

“There are many bunkers. We will dismantle all their bunkers and will clear this area from all type of gangsters. We will clear all no-go areas wherever they are existing. We will not allow any criminal and gangster to hide himself in such type of no-go areas,” Bajwa added.

He said that the army chief, General Raheel Sharif, also congratulated the troops for successfully taking the operation to this point.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2016