KARACHI: Balochistan Ins-pector General of Police Barrister Abdul Khalique Shaikh on Thursday held a meeting with his Sindh counterpart Ghulam Nabi Memon to discuss martyrdom of six personnel of the Balochistan police during a hostage rescue operation in Jacobabad a day earlier.

After the meeting, held at the Central Police Office in Karachi, Barrister Shaikh told Dawn that he and IGP Memon decided to “not only launch a well-coordinated and effective operation against those directly involved in the killing of the policemen, but also to take their facilitators, harbourers and supporters to task”.

He added that “the ongoing drive will be converted into a long-term sustainable operation.”

“All requisite resources, including manpower, weapons, vehicles and protective gear, will be provided to [the police force deployed in the] bordering districts of both the provinces,” said the Balochistan IGP.

IGPs finalise action plan at Karachi CPO meeting

Meanwhile, a statement issued by a spokesman for the Sindh police said that both the IGPs jointly chaired the meeting, which was also attended by senior officers of other law enforcement agencies.

SSPs of Jacobabad and Nasirabad gave their detailed briefings to the participants about Wednesday’s incident and put forward some vital recommendations.

The meeting was informed that 12 suspects belonging to the “Jakhrani group” had been arrested and sent to jails.

IGP Memon said that the blood of the martyred policemen would not go in vain, and directed the Larkana DIG to forma well-equipped contingent to take the culprits to task. He also asked the DIG technical and transport (T&T) to take steps for provision of vehicles while the AIG logistics was asked to provide arms and ammunition to the contingent.

IGP Memon also directed the AIG operations to arrange for one platoon of the Rapid Response Force for the proposed action.

Jacobabad SSP’s recommendations were sought for fixing head money for the dacoits involved in the Wednesday incident.

The Balochistan IGP said that it was a major incident in which as many as six police personnel embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. He said a joint operation must be initiated by the Sindh and Balochistan police against the dacoits.

He said that intelligence-based operations would be conducted to eliminated gangs of dacoit.

The joint director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and senior police officers attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2023