Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: With the arrest of ringleader of Chhotu group, several hardened criminals as well as their political facilitators from southern Punjab are likely to be exposed.

Several groups of gangsters have reportedly shifted to southern Punjab in Rojhan and Dera Ghazi Khan districts following the launch of security operations in Balochistan and KP under the national action plan (NAP).

A well-placed source told Daily Times that a few years back local police had grabbed the land from Asif Chhotu group, who hailed from the village of Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi and Maulana Abdul Aziz. It was made hard for them to live in the village Shah Wali. Asif Chhotu took refuge with a political family in Barkhan district of Balochistan province. This political clan turned him into a hardened gangster. When two younger brothers of Asif Chhotu were killed in a feud with a political family, Asif Chhotu along with other members of his gang fled from Barkhan and again shifted to his village Shah Wali, where he indulged in kidnapping, robbery and serious street crimes under the patronage of a political family. Police preferred to hold negotiations with him rather than conducting operation due to pressure from the political leadership of the area, who would use these gangsters to serve their interests. People would contact political leaders for settlement of the kidnapping-for-ransom, robberies and other crimes rather than taking action against them.

A ransom of Rs 30 million was demanded when leading trader Muhammad Yasin was kidnapped from Dera Ghazi Khan. His release was ensured by payment of ransom through a politician family, who played the role of facilitators. The top government officials would attend marriage parties and other functions of these hardened criminals openly. In the meantime, several other gangs like Ladi Gang, Ranglani Gang, Azirjarowar Gang, Bashira Gang, Sehani Gang and Chitkani Gang started thriving in different tribal areas of southern Punjab.

Sources said this gang has martyred several policemen including Inspector Imran Nawaz Brohi, Inspector Mujtaba Gormani, Sub-inspector Sajjad Jamwani and Inspector Safdar Buzdar.Sources said that these gangs were worried over the monitoring of their activities by the FC. Following the successful implementation of national action plan in Balochistan, KP and Sindh, all the hardened criminals shifted to southern Punjab.