RAHIM YAR KHAN: Several dacoit gangs, such as Dashti Gang, Indher Gang, Lund Gang and Nawab Sikhani Gang, have their presence felt with several kidnap-for-ransom and robbery strikes in the riverside area of the Indus in Rahim Yar Khan.

These gangs cropped up after the elimination of notorious Chotu Gang two years back in an operation by the law enforcing agencies.

These gangs have allegedly killed Shabbir Baghani, Nasir Malik and PML-N councillor Jam Rafiq Ahmed Jhuk in the last two weeks on resistance during kidnap attempts near Sui Gas Link Road, around the police check post of Khair Muhammad Jhuk.

According to Jam Fayyaz Jhuk, brother of deceased Jam Rafiq Jhuk, and some residents of Bhong area, the gunmen allegedly held Sadiqabad Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mahar Saqib Nasir and his policemen a few days back in the kacha area and were released after negotiation with their captors.

Residents told Dawn the gangsters had kidnapped many people of the area, and their families ransomed them for millions. These cases were never reported to the police due to fear of the gunmen.

Three killed by gunmen for resisting kidnapping

Very few people have reported the matter to police and the media.

Muhammad Yaqoob is one of them. He says his family ransomed his brother Ghous Bakhsh and uncle for Rs2.6 million and the matter was in the knowledge of the police.

The residents of the kacha area said gangsters were operating so fearlessly that they had demanded share in the 5,000 acres of sugarcane crop in the area.

Jam Fayyaz alleged that when his brother was killed by gunmen, neither police registered a case under the anti-terrorism act nor any police official contacted them. Another resident of Garhi Khair Muhammad Jhuk, Noor Ahmed told Dawn that dacoit gangs had become functional after the closing down of police check posts in the Kacha area of Rajanpur, such as Kacha Razi, Chak Charagh Shah, Basti Kathani, Kacha Karachi, Dera Sardar Farooq Mazari, Basti Chattha and Dera Irfan Khan Mazari.

Spokesperson for the police Umar Salim and DSP Nasir Saqib did not attend calls for comment.

Published in Dawn, December 05th, 2017