RAJANPUR – The law enforcement agencies conducting operation against Chotu gang on an island hideout in Rajanpur had warned the gangsters to surrender and release hostages otherwise ready to die.
The joint operation of Pakistan Army and Punjab Police is underway on 21st day as the deadline given to Chotu gang has expired. On Sunaday, the Pakistan Army has taken front line position in operation Zarb e Ahan and issued a final warning to Chotu gang.
Emergency has been imposed in Sadiqabad’s Tehsil Headquarters Hospital while two wards in Sheikh Zayed Hospital were evacuated to be utilized for operation’s injured. Earlier, Speaking at a press conference in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Sukhera said that they faced defeat in the first phase of the operation, and expressed his regret and grief over loss of policemen’s lives.
He said that police were not playing a frontline role in the operation anymore as the Pakistan Army troops are in charge now. He said over 100 facilitators of the Chhotu gang have been arrested so far. On Friday, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had given the gang 48 hours to surrender or “be wiped out”.
The Chhotu Gang seems to be on the defensive after the army took over the command of Operation Zarb-e-Aahan on Friday evening and launched an offensive under a new strategy. The army gunships targeted the criminals’ hideouts early Saturday morning but no further action was reported since then.
Also, the Chhotu Gang did not offer any resistance to the troops. The safe recovery of the policemen who were taken hostage is seemingly a priority for the army commandoes. Also, the army wants to capture Chhotu rather than eliminate him in order to interrogate him. The army men have received shoot on sight orders, adopting zero tolerance for criminals.
