DERA GHAZI KHAN: A police constable on Thursday laid down his life in a shootout between police and gangsters in reverine area of Rajanpur’s Rojhan tehsil.

The police force saluted the valour of the constable who coincidentally died on Police Martyrs’ Day.

His father Rao Saleem, who was an employee of Parco, also died in an attack in 2000.

Rao Rahat Saleem fought gangsters for more than 20 hours in the riverine area of Rajanpur, says a press release. It quoted Additional IGP South Punjab Ehsan Sadiq as having said the morale of the Rajanpur police was high.

It said an operation against gangs had been going on since June 26 last by the Rajanpur police in some areas of Rojhan and Bangla Ichha circle. “Various facilitators of gangsters have been arrested and legal action has been initiated against them. The Rajanpur police got a big success when three operatives of Imrani gang surrendered and were arrested by police,” it said.

Incident coincides with Police Martyrs’ Day

On Aug 2, police said, 40 to 45 gangsters surrounded the police picket at Bihar Maachi riverine area, prompting the officials to retaliate. A heavy contingent of police (DSP Circle Rojhan police) led by the DPO reached Bihar Maachi to provide backup force to the employees posted on the picket and had an exchange of fire with the criminals.

Rahat Saleem suffered bullet injuries during the shootout and embraced martyrdom, the press release said.

The funeral prayer of the constable was held in the Rajanpur Police Lines with full honour. Senior police officers participated.

According to a report, Dulani gang leader Fayyaz Dulani and Gaura Imrani were killed while Shahid Lound was injured.

Rahat Saleem, a resident of Shehr Faridkot, Mithan Sharif, is survived by wife and three children.

Punjab IGP Faisal Shahkar paid tribute to Saleem for laying down his life in the line of duty.

PROTEST: The Kala police have registered a case against 278 flood victims, 28 of them nominated, who had blocked the Indus Highway for being ignored during Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s visit.

The case has been registered under sections 353/186/382/341/427/149/148 of PPC and under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 against residents of Ahmadani village.

The chief minister on Aug 2 last visited the flood-hit areas of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Residents of Ahmadani village of Taunsa Sharif said they were expecting that the chief minister would visit their homes as well but the district administration did not include them in the list despite massive losses.

They blocked Indus Highway throwing traffic out of gear for one and-a-half hour.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2022