Chhotu: From local goon to most feared gangster in south Punjab

On the islands of the River Indus in Rajanpur and the kacha areas bordering Sindh and Balochistan, the Chhotu Gang did not always inspire the terror it does today. Back in 2002, they were small-time offenders burgling houses without the modern weapons they own today.

Gang-leader Ghulam Rasool alias Chhotu first dabbled into the world of crime to recover some land that he had lost to local goons. For help, he approached a powerful gangster of the area, whose men recovered his land and won over Chhotu’s loyalty. Chhotu became stronger under Baba Long’s careful tutelage.

At the age of 13, Chhotu and his brother were wanted for the murder of 18 people.

By 2004, he was listed in the proclaimed offenders list issued by the Punjab police. The very next year he kidnapped 12 Chinese engineers from the Indus Highway.

The chief of another powerful gang which operated in South Punjab died in a police encounter. Chhotu won his gang over, and more than 300 of the men joined Chhotu. The gang, which sought refuge in the 40 kilometer dense forest area by the Indus River in southern Punjab’s district Rajanpur, became stronger than ever before.

In 2010, the Punjab Police launched an operation against them but failed to arrest any key gang-leaders or put them in a position where would surrender.

Chhotu meanwhile fled to Sindh, where he stayed put until 2012, before he returned to Rajanpur again.

In 2013, he attacked a police check-post and abducted eight police officers. They were set free eight days later after the government agreed to their demands, which included safe passage and release of his family members.

In 2015, the police tried to bring the gang down in an unsuccessful operation which continued for seventeen days.

Law enforcers appear to be having a tough time dealing with the gang of rebels even now, as on the eighteenth day of yet another operation only four gangsters have been killed, compared to seven policemen who have been killed and 18 taken hostage.

The area where they operate comprises of small islands: Kacha Jamal, Kacha More and Kacha Shah Wali. The gang at the moment has secured itself in a 10 kilometre land strip at Kacha Jamal.

Police and the gang are separated by a 1.5 kilometer side stream of the River Indus, which has to be covered on boats. The gangsters shoot them down as they try crossing the river.