11 gang members visit Katcha in Rajanpur as police target Umrani gang

At least 11 dangerous and highly wanted members of the Umrani gang have surrendered to the police following a large-scale operation against criminal elements in the katcha areas of Rajanpur, police said on Sunday.

Rajanpur police carried out a targeted operation in Katcha Umrani, Sukhani and Katcha Karachi areas, using modern technology, including drones, to bomb the hideouts of criminals.

According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, the operation led to the surrender of 11 key members of the Umrani gang. The hideouts and bunkers of the dacoits were destroyed, while the surrendered suspects handed over heavy weapons and other weapons to the law enforcers.

Read: Dacoit from Katcha region with a bounty of Rs10m goes to Rahim Yar Khan

District Police Officer (DPO) Rajanpur Muhammad Imran said the arrested dacoits were wanted for long in several cases, including kidnapping, murder and armed robbery. He added that the suspects would be treated strictly in accordance with the law and punished accordingly.

The DPO said an intense exchange of fire was still underway between the police and the remaining dacoits in the area. He warned other criminal elements to surrender immediately or face strict action.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar praised the performance of Rajanpur police and congratulated the officers involved in the operation. He said the campaign to eliminate crime in Katcha areas would continue with full vigor.

Last week, notorious dacoit Mera Lathani of Katcha area, who was carrying a cash amount of Rs 10 million, surrendered to the police along with his accomplices Fida alias Rathor Lathani and Zulfi Lathani in Rahim Yar Khan.

Earlier, in October last year, at least 72 wanted dacoits from Sindh’s Shikarpur district also laid down their arms. Many of them were carrying bounties, and officials described the development as a turning point for areas long plagued by crime and lawlessness.

The surrenders were made as part of President Asif Ali Zardari’s surrender policy, approved in 2024, aimed at restoring peace and recovering katcha areas falling under Sukkur and Larkana divisions. Under the policy, surrendered bandits must face pending criminal cases before they can be eligible for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).