THIS is with reference to the report “Police officers ‘expose’ each other to escape action in ex-MPA attack case” (Oct 21) wherein the deputy inspector-general (DIG) of Sukkur was said to have blamed the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Ghotki, for having ties with hardened criminals.

Kacha is the area of land running along the Indus River which is divided between two densely populated provinces; Punjab and Sindh. The region is notorious for banditry. The roots of dacoit culture in the kacha area can be traced back to various socioeconomic factors, including poverty, lack of law enforcement, and land disputes.

Local clans and tribes often engage in banditry as a means of survival, leading to a cycle of violence and retribution. Throughout history, several infamous dacoit gangs emerged, often associated with specific tribes. These gangs gained fame for their audacious raids and kidnappings for ransom.

The main reason for their audacity is weak governance and lack of proper law enforcement. The two factors have always been laregely ignored. Additionally, scarce resources are also blamed for the failure of law-enforcement agencies. Local communities have frequently given voice to its perception that there is allegedly some sort of a collusion between some dacoits and the black sheep in police ranks. The lack of a robust accountability mechanism for the police department continues to hinder efforts to address these serious concerns, leaving a lot of questions unanswered.

If the reign of terror unleashed by the criminals in the rural areas of Sindh is not enough for the law-enforcers to wake up, the recent accusation hurled by one high-ranking police officer against another should be an eye-opener for those who matter. This must be investigated so that we can get rid of the criminals operating with such audacity in Sindh.

There should be an effective mechanism of accountability in the police department. Besides, adequate resources must be provided to the police force to eliminate the gangs of hardened criminals. On the other hand, it is imperative to pay heed to issues of governance, and to chart out a smoother path towards achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

Mian Talha Shahzad
Nankana Sahib

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2024