Army launches operation against Chhotu Gang

RAJANPUR: Pakistan Army on Monday launched a full-scale offensive to dislodge Rajanpur gangsters — locally referred to as “Chhotu Gang” — holding policemen as hostages on its island hideout in Punjab.

Army helicopter gunships pounded the island hideout of the heavily armed gang that has been holding 24 hostages on a 10 kilometres long island in the centre of the Indus River.

The operation involving more than 2,000 security forces has been ongoing for two weeks and the army’s push to deploy troops, artillery and helicopter gunships is an unprecedented use of force by the military in Punjab.

“We (army) had given the Chhotu gang until 2pm today to surrender but they did not abide by the deadline,” said a military official based in the district of Rajanpur in southern Punjab where the battle is taking place.

“Now there is no option left but a full-scale operation, which has started.”

It was unclear just how many members of the Chhotu gang, blamed for hundreds of cases of kidnapping for ransom, murder and robbery, were trapped on the island, but police said their families were believed to be accompanying them.

The army’s publicity wing announced that General Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmed, the most senior commanding officer in the area, had arrived earlier in the day “to see preparation for impending operation against criminals”.

At least six police officials have been killed in the battle for the island. A police spokeswoman said policemen were among the 24 hostages.

The battle was taking place near Rajanpur, one of the less privileged districts in Punjab, where the Panjnad River flows into the Indus, Pakistan’s lifeline.

— Reuters/Geo News