BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab and Sindh police departments have decided to conduct a joint operation against criminals operating in the riverine (kacha) areas of Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab) and Kashmore (Sindh) districts for the protection of the lives and properties of the people of both provinces.

Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer’s (RPO) spokesman Ajmal Saqib told Dawn that the police forces of both provinces have finalised a joint strategy to combat crime in the crime-infested riverine areas of the two districts – RYK and Kashmore – to restrict the inter-provincial movement of robbers and other criminals.

For this purpose, he said, that RYK District Police Officer (DPO) retired Capt Muhammad Ali Zia has deployed additional force, equipped with modern weapons and armoured vehicles around Kacha Machka area.

The spokesman added Punjab and Sindh police had jointly carried out a flag march in the area on Friday in which officers and personnel of district police and Elite Force participated.

Spokesperson for RYK district police says that investigation SP retired Capt Dost Muhammad also visited Machka area to supervise the preparation for the joint operation.

He says DPO retired Capt Muhammad Ali Zia had telephonic contact with Kashmore SSP Amjad Sheikh to set up joint police camps and begin combined patrolling and search operations by police of both provinces. They also agreed to blockade the area to restrict the movement of criminals from one place to another, he adds.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2022