LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera on Friday lauded the efforts of entire force and congratulated the officials for winning the trust and confidence of people by eliminating the hardcore criminals from Katcha area. It is noteworthy that Katcha area had become a safe haven for hardcore criminals for the last 3 decades and a no go area for the local residents. Every year, hundreds of people used to face kidnappings for ransom, murder, robberies, crop and cattle theft at the hands of these criminals, who had become symbols of terror and fear. While addressing the Regional Police Office (RPO) Bahawalpur and district police officers of the region through video link from Central Police Office, Mushtaq Sukhera paid rich tributes to Rahim Yar Khan DPO Zeeshan Asgher on discharging his duties diligently without caring for his life, adding that officers like Zeeshan Asgher are real assets of the force and young officers should follow the footprints of Zeeshan. The IG also announced CC-I certificate and other prizes for all participants in the Katcha operation. The IG said that the police of all areas should properly utilise the expertise of the Riverine force, which has been trained for this purpose. Rahim Yar Khan DPO Zeeshan Asgher on the occasion briefed the IG about the modus operandi of the operation. He also told that areas including Machka, Fatehpur, Dolatpur, Mureedabad, Chak Bhara, Thul Kundair, Bhong, Kot Sabzal and Ahmadpur Lamma have become the havens and safe hideouts for criminal. He said many people belonging to Kosh and Chachar tribes have lost their lives during their clashes with each other. He further said that the people of these tribes introduced proclaimed offenders as their heroes and also generate funds at tribal level for them. The DPO said that investigation against all these 77 POs was underway. He recommended CC-I and cash reward for SP Investigation Irfan Sammu and DSP Sadiqabad Mehr Nasir.