Punjab raises bounties on dacoits after deadly attack on police

LAHORE: On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, bounties have been increased for the capture or elimination of dangerous dacoits after the deadly attack on police in the Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Friday, the bounty for the most dangerous dacoit has been set at Rs10 million. For dangerous dacoits, the bounty has been set at Rs5 million and for the third category, which includes dangerous dacoits and terrorists, the bounty has been set at Rs2.5 million.

Maryam Nawaz said that “terrorists involved in the martyrdom of police personnel will be brought to justice.”

On Thursday night, 12 police officials were martyred and eight others injured in an attack on police vehicles in the Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab.

The Punjab police spokesperson had said that the vans were attacked with rockets by the bandits.

Two police vehicles were returning from their weekly duty in the Kacha area when one of the vehicles broke down and was suddenly attacked by the dacoits with rocket launchers.

Following the tragic attack, the prime minister, the president and the Punjab chief minister expressed their determination to take decisive action against the robbers.

The Punjab interior secretary and the provincial police chief visited Rahim Yar Khan to encourage the police officers engaged in the operation against the dacoits and assured them of additional arms and reinforcements from the government.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attended the funeral prayers of the slain police officers on Friday.

The Kacha area, known as a hideout for bandits, spans across three provinces: Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.