DERA GHAZI KHAN: DG Khan police claimed on Friday that a notorious member of Ladi gang of Katcha area dacoits, Abdul Sattar alias Karchu, who was snatched from a team was later killed in the firing by his accomplices during an encounter.

A handout says Abdul Sattar, a resident of Thalang Jandani, who was in custody on physical remand, was being taken for the recovery of some looted items by Kot Mubarak police, when his accomplices, led by Ladi gang ringleader Ibrahim alias Abi Chakrani, attacked the police vehicle,snatched him and fled. A Constable, Muhammad Asif (1575/C) was injured during the attack.

The police chased the criminals and during a crossfire with the dacoits near a graveyard in Marao Jiani, Sattar was killed “in firing by his own accomplices”.

The handout said Sattar was an active member of the Ladi gang and a proclaimed offender, wanted in 40 cases, including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, kidnap for ransom, dacoity, robbery, extortion, and attacks on police.

Citing the record, the police said Sattar’s notorious crimes included the murder of a lady doctor’s father during a robbery near Chor Pul on January 20, 2023, attack on a police vehicle in Kala police station jurisdiction on November 11, 2023, in which a Sub-Inspector, Rizwan Mehmood, was martyred and three personnel were injured.

On April 18, 2024, he murder a man in Saddar policelimits, on January 26, 2025, he led an attack on police, critically injuring Sub-Inspector Muhammad Irfan, on February 3, 2025, he murdered a man in mountains, and on May 27, 2025, he carried out a rocket attack on a cement factory in the mountainous area.

The police say that a massive search operation has been launched in the area to arrest the criminals at large.

As per sources, Sattar was arrested a few days back by Cement Factory Border Military Police from the tribal area tehsil of Koh-i-Sulaiman. He was among the most wanted criminals listed by the BMP and the Punjab Police.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025