BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab Police have been taking measures to rehabilitate around 1,000 Katcha area criminals, who had surrendered, under the Rs23 billion chief minister’s welfare package.

This was stated by Bahawalpur RPO Ghazi Muhammad Salahuddin here on Tuesday. Talking to Dawn, the RPO said that presently Katcha dacoits along with their families within the jurisdiction of Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur districts were being settled.

He said that with the CM’s financial package, new roads, schools and dispensaries were being planned in the Katcha areas for these families. At the same time, he said, the police were also devising ways to provide employment opportunities to the former criminals to earn a livelihood and make them useful citizens of society.

In this connection, the RPO said that recently as many as 31 dacoits who had surrendered were given gifts by Bahawalpur Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia.

He said the government’s priority was to bring peace in the Katcha areas and the provision of basic amenities to bring it at par with the adjacent developed areas.

He pointed out that most former dacoits were forced to raise arms due to family disputes. He claimed that nine such cases of family rivalries had been resolved, while others were also negotiating to end their differences.

He said that 345 and 600 criminals in Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur districts, respectively, had so far laid down their arms and had pledged to serve the country and abide by the law.

He said the police had already facilitated some of the former dacoits in finding alternative jobs and had provided them with loader rickshaws as well as helped them open mechanic shops.

Regarding their cases, the RPO said that those were being reviewed as most of them had prayed for forgiveness and were cooperating with the police in the investigation process. However, he said, the cases of those who were involved in killing several police officials would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

SUSPENDED: Three police officials have been suspended after two under-arrest alleged addicts Waqas and Syed Rizwan escaped the Hasilpur City Police lock-up in Bahawalpur.

According to a police spokesperson, Bahawalpur District Poilce Officer (DPO) Rana Abdul Wahab suspended the officials, including two moharrars of day and night duties and a constable, and ordered an inquiry against them.

The spokesperson told Dawn that the names of three suspended officials were withheld due to the inquiry against them.

ACCIDENT: A woman riding pillion on a motorcycle was run over and killed by a tractor-trolley at Mauza Bakhtiari near Uch Sharif on Tuesday.

According to Rescue 1122, the motorcycle slipped on the road and the two motorcycle riders fell on the road. Meanwhile, a speeding tractor-trolley coming from behind crushed the woman identified as Rabia Bibi under its wheels.

Her body was shifted to a nearby hospital and the Uch Sharif Police reached the scene and arrested the driver.

RAPE ATTEMPT: A visually impaired girl has appealed police high-ups to arrest a man for an alleged attempted sexual assault about two months ago in the limits of Hasilpur City Police in Bahawalpur district.

According to victim ‘S’, she was rescued by the area residents when suspect ‘R’ attempted to assault her.

She claimed that she had filed her complaint with the police station concerned, which had so far failed to register an FIR and arrest the suspect.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026