Bandits of Kutch

Bandits of Kutch (Urdu: کچے کے ڈاکو) is a criminal gang active in the riverine belt of Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan. They are known for their violent activities, including kidnapping, extortion and murder. They have turned their operations into various illegal activities and are known to cheat people on the pretext of love or business. Despite several large-scale operations against them, they continue to operate in the southern districts, posing a significant challenge to local authorities. The bandits are reportedly armed with more sophisticated weapons than the local police and have targeted many civilians. Their activities have instilled fear in the local population, and their influence seems to be growing. The Sindh government is actively working to stop their activities, but the former interior minister of Sindh says that unless action is taken against the landowners in Kutch, the dacoits will not be eradicated.

Criminal activities

Bandits are notorious for their brutal tactics. They kidnap civilians and security personnel, make videos of physical violence, and demand millions of rupees in ransom. In cases where the ransom is not paid, the hostages are brutally killed. Bandits are no longer just involved in bandits but ow they have turned their operations into various illegal activities. They are also known to deceive people by pretending to be in love or business.

Ghotki robber Faqir Nisar Shar regularly comes on Facebook to threaten the police and support his Shar community and dacoits. Shar is considered to be the spokesperson of dacoits. Along with them, the gangsters are not only using social media for their activities, but in some videos, they also display weapons with the dubbing of Sindhi and Saraiki songs, which are shared on social media.

The bandits have targeted many citizens. Despite several large-scale operations against them, they continue to operate in the southern districts.

The HRCP's fact-finding report stated that the bandits receive a ransom of one billion rupees annually. During 2022, 300 people were kidnapped by the bandits for ransom.

Weaponry

The bandits are reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons including mortars, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-aircraft guns. Their weapons are said to be superior to local police, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies.

Law Enforcement Operations

Operation Shikarpur
Date 26 May 2021 – present Location Shikarpur, Sukkur, Ghotki, and Katcha region of upper Sindh Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Sindh Sindh Police	Sindh Dacoits
Commanders and leaders
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah (2018–present) IG Sindh Mushtaq Ahmad Mahar (2020)	Tegho Khan Teghani (alleged)
Units involved
Local Police ATS Commandos	Local Tribal Dacoits
Strength
600 Local Police 200 ATS Commandos	700 - 1000
Casualties and losses
4 Policemen, 1 Photographer killed 6 Injured 1 APC damaged

Operation Shikarpur

Operation Shikarpur (Urdu: آپریشن شکارپور) is an ongoing law enforcement initiative aimed at tackling local criminals in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Focusing primarily on the Kacha area in Shikarpur District, the operation seeks to apprehend robbers and other lawbreakers, ensuring a safer environment for the local population.

Overview

The police have urged residents to temporarily evacuate mosques in order to facilitate unhindered action against criminals. This precautionary measure aims to prevent any hindrance to the ongoing operation, which is also being carried out in the Sukkur and Kashmore districts of North Sindh. Tragically, during a confrontation with robbers, two policemen and a police assistant lost their lives when their armored vehicle came under heavy weapons fire.

In a significant development, the police apprehended Tegho Khan Teghani, a prominent figure from the Teghani tribe, in Karachi. Teghani was subsequently remanded into police custody by the court. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shikarpur, Tanveer Tanio, explained that due to the inevitable displacement of residents following floods in the Kacha region, the police sought their cooperation in the operation. Tanio emphasized that individuals found remaining in the area and engaging in hostile acts towards the police would be considered accomplices or partners of the criminals.

The decision to initiate the operation in the Kacha area followed an attack on a police party, resulting in three fatalities, including two policemen. The SSP Shikarpur highlighted that two prevalent types of crimes in the district involve abductions along national highways, with victims being taken to Kacha, as well as cattle theft within the Kacha region. The police have arrested two individuals who were involved in abducting people from the area and are utilizing their assistance to track down the gangs responsible for ransom kidnappings.

To enhance operational effectiveness, police outposts have been established in areas such as Garhi Tegho and Chak, which are prone to incidents. Furthermore, base camps are being set up to provide immediate response capabilities and reduce response time. The police have acquired state-of-the-art armored vehicles that are resistant to anti-aircraft guns and heavy weapons like rockets. Additionally, drone cameras are being deployed to monitor the movements of criminals, and snipers are on standby. The operation will progress further after establishing these base camps and gaining control over the challenging terrain.

According to SSP Sukkur Irfan Sammo that police had set up more than 25 outposts in Kacha and had gained access near the Indus River to prevent the accused from fleeing from Shikarpur. Supply should be stopped. He said that in addition to the locals in the Panu Aqil Kacha, strict measures have been taken to ensure that the supply is suspended and no one else can leave. In addition, white-clad accomplices of the robbers are being monitored in the paved areas. Kashmore district of Sindh is a border area of Punjab and in the past, dacoits from Punjab have been taking refuge in Punjab by conducting operations in Sindh and Sindh. According to SSP Kashmore Amjad Sheikh the operation was already underway in Kashmore from Shikarpur in which the hideouts of the dacoits were set on fire and the police were advancing on a daily basis. There is also an exchange of fire on the ground. He said that there are obstacles in the way of forests and bushes along the way which are being removed while the Kacha area adjacent to Shikarpur Kacha is also being monitored.

Kacha Region

The Forest Department has millions of acres of land in the Kacha area on both sides of the Indus River, of which a large area is occupied, according to the department. Many large landowners have thousands of acres of raw land called Katie in the local language. Many of these big landowners are also active in politics. The Kacha area remains dry for most of the year but is flooded during the flood season. The land here is considered to be the most fertile due to the presence of river minerals. The Sindh Disaster Management Department estimates that there are more than one million people living here, who are involved in livestock farming and agriculture. On one side of the river is Kashmore district and on the other side is Ghotki district. The Kacha area of the Indus River is also in many districts of central and southern Sindh, but Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikapur and Jacobabad are the districts where dacoits are active and tribal conflicts are also intense in these districts. Forests, bushes and rough terrain make it easier for robbers to carry out their operations in secret and seek refuge here. Sukkur journalist and analyst Jan Mohammad Mehr says that the Sukkur region includes eight districts of northern Sindh and the law and order situation here was very bad and more than 150 people have been abducted in the last one and a half years. According to Jan Mohammad Mehr, when the dacoits made and shared social media videos, challenged the police and killed policemen in Shikarpur, then there was severe criticism on which the Prime Minister also took notice and Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Karachi. Arrived, where he met with DG Rangers. Besides, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah came to Shikarpur and thus it was decided to intensify the operation.

Kacha Operation

Kacha Operation
Location Kacha, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan Result Ongoing
Commanders and leaders
IG South-Punjab
Casualties and losses
2 police officers killed, several injured	3 militants killed, 6 arrested

The Kacha Operation is an ongoing counterterrorism operation carried out by the Pakistani police and security forces in the Kacha neighbourhood of the Sadiqabad, Punjab, Pakistan. The goal of the operation was to eliminate terrorist safe havens and establish peace in the area. The operation was started in reaction to a gang's deadly attack at Chowk Mahi in October 2021, which resulted in the deaths of nine persons due to indiscriminate shooting.

Background

Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar briefed the Provincial Cabinet of Punjab about the current operation in the Kacha region. The release of cash for the Kacha operation's expenses received clearance from the cabinet. A durable plan called for the construction of an infrastructure following the Kacha campaign against terrorists. The cabinet reaffirmed their intention to see the current operation in the Kacha area through to completion and praised the courage of the participating police forces.

The Elite Force supported the Pakistani police and security forces as they oversaw the operation. The Kacha area along the Indus River was the focus of police and security operations against alleged criminal hideouts.

There have been 2 police fatalities and some injuries. Pakistan Army deployment was sought by the police and the provincial government, and it was approved by the cabinet. The army is now taking part in this operation as well. The army has dispatched sniper squads and APC teams to support the police in the operation.

Timeline

In November 2022, five policemen including DSP Abdul Malik Bhutto, SHO Abdul Malik Kamangar, SHO Deen Mohammad Laghari and two police constables were martyred in an attack by dacoits.

In May 2023, two persons were abducted by these dacoits in Ghotki.

In March 2024, a primary teacher, Allah Rakhiyo Nandwani, who raised his voice against Kachhe dacoits in Kashmore Kundhkot district of Sindh province, was allegedly killed by Kachhe dacoits.

Challenges and countermeasures

Bandits continue to be a major challenge for local authorities, despite several crackdowns against them. Their activities have instilled fear in the local population, and their influence seems to be growing. The government has been criticized for failing to deal effectively with the threat.

The Sindh government is actively working to stop the activities of these dacoits. In April 2024, however, the former interior minister of Sindh says that unless action is taken against the landlords in Kutch, the dacoits will not be eradicated.

In April 2024, the Federal Ministry of Interior, under the leadership of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, decided to conduct a joint operation in the Kacha area after detailed consultations and deliberations to strengthen security measures across Pakistan and deal with criminal elements. This decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the National Action Plan implementation review committee. Advanced technology, including drones, will be used to increase operational efficiency.

See Also

• Kacha Operation

• Operation Shikarpur