Dacoits involved in murders, kidnappings for ransom; police say surrender took place after strengthening anti-criminal operations
Notorious Katcha dacoit Mera Lathani, carrying a bounty of Rs10 million, surrendered to the police in Rahim Yar Khan along with accomplices Fida alias Rathor Lathani and Zulfi Lathani.
According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the surrender came as the police stepped up operations against criminals in Katcha area under the leadership of District Police Officer Irfan Ali Samoon.
The Punjab government had declared Lathani a dangerous offender, with his accomplices also wanted. Dacoits are involved in murders, attacks on police, kidnapping for ransom, among other serious crimes, the police spokesperson said.
Read: Sindh launches major operation against katcha bandits, warns of harsh measures
DPO Samoon said the doors are open to those who lay down their arms and move towards a peaceful life. “Those who surrender will have the opportunity to live a better life,” he said.
He added that the police are fully committed to protecting the lives and property of the public and cracking down on criminals, adding that targeted intelligence-driven actions and operations against criminals in Katcha region are still ongoing.
The development comes amid intensified operations against Katcha dacoits across the country. Earlier on Wednesday, Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar announced the launch of a major operation against riverine bandits, warning that those who refuse to surrender and challenge state orders would be eliminated.
This is not the first time that such prestigious bandits have laid down their arms. In October last year, at least 72 wanted Katcha dacoits from Shikarpur, Sindh, surrendered under a voluntary surrender programme. Many of the outlaws had a price on their heads, and officials described the move as a turning point in a region long plagued by crime, fear and lawlessness.
The move was part of President Asif Ali Zardari’s historic surrender policy, approved in 2024, as part of a broader initiative to ensure lasting peace and reclaim the Katcha areas, which fall under the Sukkur and Larkana divisions. According to the policy, surrendered bandits must first face pending criminal cases before being included in the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).
