SINDH Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar’s announcement of a “massive” operation against dacoits in the Katcha areas is a welcome development but it is also an indictment of years of hesitation, half-measures and abandoned resolve. The terror unleashed by heavily armed gangs in the riverine belts of Sindh has persisted for far too long, turning large swathes of the province into no-go areas and making a mockery of the writ of the state. A decisive operation is not just needed it is long overdue.
In the past, similar declarations were made, each time, expectations were raised among the people of Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and adjoining districts, only to be dashed when operations lost momentum or coordination collapsed. This only emboldened criminals to operate with impunity- kidnapping citizens, attacking highways and humiliating law enforcement agencies. Hence, the latest operation must not be symbolic or sporadic; it must be massive, sustained and relentless until the complete elimination of these dacoits. Crucially, it should be executed in a matter of days or weeks. Prolonged operations only sap public confidence and give criminals the strategic advantage. Modern technology must be at the heart of this effort. Surveillance drones, satellite imagery, thermal cameras, geo-fencing, intelligence-based operations and real-time coordination between police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies will help eliminate these dacoits. The Katcha terrain is difficult, but it is not unconquerable especially in an age where technology can neutralise natural hideouts that once gave criminals an edge. Equally critical is the need to confront the enabling ecosystem that has allowed these gangs to survive and thrive. If any dacoits enjoy patronage, protection or facilitation from influential quarters, they must also be identified, nabbed and proceeded against strictly under the law. An operation that targets only gunmen in the riverine forests while sparing their sponsors would be incomplete and ultimately futile. Freeing the Katcha area from dacoits will do more than restore law and order; it will restore hope. Farmers will return to their fields, traders will move without fear, highways will become safe again and residents will finally feel the sense of security. This operation is a test of governance, resolve and credibility. It must be taken to its logical conclusion through complete coordination between security and provincial authorities, ensuring that these dacoits are left with no place to hide.
