SUKKUR: Sindh and Punjab police have launched a joint operation against dacoits in the katcha areas on and along the border of the two provinces to cleanse the riverine areas of criminals and outlaws, according to Sukkur police range DIG Captain (Retd) Syed Feroze Shah.

The DIG told journalists here on Saturday evening that criminal elements had safe haven within the border areas in Sindh where they would hide after committing crimes in Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad and other areas of Punjab.

Punjab police had launched the operation against such elements and Sindh police were extending them full cooperation. Through the joint efforts of the police of the two provinces, the area was being cleaned of all criminal elements, he said.

He said the areas within the Sindh border where the operation was under way included Raunti, Pannu Aqil, Ghotki, Kashmore, Shah Belo, Shikarpur, Khairpur and Bagarji. One policeman had laid down his life and four dacoits had been killed so far during the operation in Bagarji katcha area, he said.

The DIG said that a high-level inquiry had been started against the police officials and the policemen who were involved in land grabbing and illegal chopping of costly trees in the katcha area of Ghotki.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2017