Three suspects killed, four Rangers personnel injured during shootout

KARACHI: Four Rangers personnel were injured and three suspected criminals were killed in a shootout in the Sarkand area of Sindh on Thursday.

According to a spokesperson for Rangers, the incident occurred in Sakrand, a town in Shaheed Benazirabad district of Sindh, where the Rangers and police launched a joint operation based on intelligence reports.

The Rangers spokesperson said the operation was aimed at arresting high-value suspects who were involved in criminal activities and possessed explosive materials and weapons.

“When the security forces reached the spot, the criminals opened fire on them. Four Rangers personnel were injured in the exchange of fire while three attackers were killed on the spot,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the security forces recovered arms and ammunition from the scene and were conducting further investigations.

The Rangers are a federal paramilitary force that operates under the interior ministry and assists the police in maintaining law and order in Sindh.

They have been deployed in Sindh, especially in Karachi, since 2013 to crack down on crime, terrorism and political violence.

Rangers are also assisting the police in the Katcha area of Sindh and Punjab, a vast region along the Indus river that is notorious for being a hideout for bandits, kidnappers and outlaws.

The area is inaccessible by road and has dense forests and marshlands that provide cover for the criminals.

The security forces have been conducting operations in the Katcha area for several years to flush out the gangs that operate there.

The gangs are often involved in tribal feuds, robberies, kidnappings for ransom and smuggling of drugs and weapons.

Some of the most notorious gangs in the Katcha area are the Mumdani gang, the Chotu gang, the Khosa gang, the Chandio gang and the Umrani gang. These gangs have hundreds of members and are armed with sophisticated weapons, including rocket launchers, grenades and sniper rifles.

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The gangs often clash with each other over territory and resources, as well as with the security forces.

In 2016, the Chotu gang held 24 policemen hostage for two weeks in Rajanpur district of Punjab before surrendering to the army.

In 2019, seven policemen were killed in a gun battle with bandits in Ghotki district of Sindh.

The security forces face many challenges in dealing with the gangs, such as lack of intelligence, coordination, equipment and public support.

The local population is often sympathetic to the gangs or afraid of their reprisals. The gangs also have political patronage and influence in some areas.

The government has announced several measures to improve the security situation in the Katcha area, such as increasing police presence, establishing check posts, providing modern weapons and surveillance systems, and developing infrastructure and social services. However, the progress has been slow and uneven, and the Katcha area remains a lawless and dangerous zone.