Operation against Chotu Gang in Rajanpur

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Does no one in Pakistan care about collateral damage from indiscriminate use of air power in civilian areas, that too deal with a bunch of dacoits?

Smart Arse .. It's jungle,swamp,river and desert fm terrain ... Bordering Punjab and Sindh ... Chou Gang aren't some kids .. Those mofos are armed with heavy weapons .. From PK Machine Guns to Recoiless Rifles and RPGs etc..

Those bastards are dangerous .. Several other stations have been done by police in the past all in vain.. Not this time .. It's part of Operation Zarb e Azab..


As for the helicopters ... The provincial govt isn't asking for Cobras but light attack helos.. Instead the Govt of Panjab should have used its own Bells,Augustas or MIs for this mission..

Is a simple statement for all civilians to vacate the area enough? What if they are being kept as hostages by these dacoits or are women children of these dacoits, wont they die too?

Nobody lives in that area except chotu gang and their families... Either they surrender .. Or we will make em.

Yes many nations use airpower in civilian areas to deal with terrorist, but usually those civilian belong to other countries eg US regularly bombs the civilian areas in Iraq , Afghanistan and Pakistan..but thats because to them Iraqi/Afghan pr Pakistani civilian casualties are acceptable as long as they can save American lives.

But hardly any other nation pounds its own civilian areas from air.

India itself has used its airforce on densely populated areas in the past..

And who is talking about bombing villages or populated areas.. What do you even know about Kacha area???

Is it always necessary to go after a fly with a bazooka?

Some footage of operation;


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Tell us if they are using bazookas... Or lightly armed (HMGs) helis with FLIRs!

 

[Signalian]

Does no one in Pakistan care about collateral damage from indiscriminate use of air power in civilian areas, that too deal with a bunch of dacoits?

Gunships are also a show of force apart from the devastating firepower they can shower on enemy. The miscreants hold hostages also so blind trigger happy function will not come into effect.

1.Most probably the Gunships will round up the fleeing gangs more quickly than police chasing them on ground.

2. Maybe the terrain is unsuitable for vehicles even.

3. Gunships can easily soften strong-points of the miscreants and the police can move in then.

Is a simple statement for all civilians to vacate the area enough? What if they are being kept as hostages by these dacoits or are women children of these dacoits, wont they die too?

Surprisingly, yes an announcement in mosques and word of mouth works.
The special branch of police, also called civilian dressed cops mingle in people and direct the operations where contact with local population is required.

Hostage rescue ops will be quite different.

Yes many nations use airpower in civilian areas to deal with terrorist, but usually those civilian belong to other countries eg US regularly bombs the civilian areas in Iraq , Afghanistan and Pakistan..but thats because to them Iraqi/Afghan pr Pakistani civilian casualties are acceptable as long as they can save American lives.

But hardly any other nation pounds its own civilian areas from air.

Is it always necessary to go after a fly with a bazooka?

No one is pounding civilian area to kill civilians although it depends upon the Field Commander how he proceeds with ops as the situation dictates. However its the strong-points which may need softening by aerial support. The gunships will not be used to do every task required for the ops.

Pakistan Army and Police will want to keep population safe and in good books. Secondly, the local population would also want the area to be cleansed from miscreant infection.

 

[unleashed]

There is SSG Zarrar Coy, SSG (N) and SSW better qualified for this role.

Acha

 

[Signalian]

We live in Pakistan not Sweden. We have one of the highest crime ratios and one of the most volatile region. This SWAT force is must with at least 1000 Deployed in every major city and equipped with helicopters to reach far areas. Secondly we need forensic labs in every major city let say in a city with more than 2 million population thirdly. Murder should be investigated by Special Branch and every Police station should have at least 120 Police Man with at least 20 of them trained for Light Commando Role like Army LCB units.

Firstly, not all crimes scenes require SWAT.

Secondly, SWAT is always a fraction of police force and operates in small groups. Just like SSG and SSG also has just Zarrar Coy in AT role.

Thirdly, SWAT requires weapons and other related equipment and training separate from the police force. Its a cumbersome task to equip more and more men with sophisticated weapons and equipment.

Fourthly and most importantly, Pakistan has many kinds of forces amongst forces. Elite, dolphin, Eagle, CTD, SSU etc for police, they all have almost the same role.
Then is the Reserve police, Police Razakars and Frontier-Constabulary
Then there is Para-Military Forces like Rangers and FC.
Then there is another kind of Paramilitary force called as National Guards which includes Mujahid force, Janbaz force who have defense role apart from secondary AD role.

 

[Zarvan]

Firstly, not all crimes scenes require SWAT.

Secondly, SWAT is always a fraction of police force and operates in small groups. Just like SSG and SSG also has just Zarrar Coy in AT role.

Thirdly, SWAT requires weapons and other related equipment and training separate from the police force. Its a cumbersome task to equip more and more men with sophisticated weapons and equipment.

Fourthly and most importantly, Pakistan has many kinds of forces amongst forces. Elite, dolphin, Eagle, CTD, SSU etc for police, they all have almost the same role.
Then is the Reserve police, Police Razakars and Frontier-Constabulary
Then there is Para-Military Forces like Rangers and FC.
Then there is another kind of Paramilitary force called as National Guards which includes Mujahid force, Janbaz force who have defense role apart from secondary AD role.

We need to combine all the forces pay can be a little different. As for Para Military Forces all of them needs to be turned into National Guards with main role securing borders and should be equipped with latest weapons. Both Army and Para Military should be hardly used inside cities.

 

[Signalian]

We need to combine all the forces pay can be a little different. As for Para Military Forces all of them needs to be turned into National Guards with main role securing borders and should be equipped with latest weapons. Both Army and Para Military should be hardly used inside cities.

I would not argue with you on that. The red tapers and HQ's commanding them have based these forces on their own experience, skill set and requirements of deployment and ops.

 

[Edevelop]

RAJANPUR: At least three police officials were killed while four others sustained injuries during an operation against Chotu gang in Punjab’s Rajanpur district on Wednesday, Express News reported.

According to reports, three police personnel were killed and four others injured as members of the notorious gang allegedly opened fire at them.

On Tuesday, Rajanpur police had requested Punjab Police IG Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera to provide them with two military helicopters for air strikes against the suspects in Bahawalpur region.

Law enforcement agencies are performing a joint operation Zarb-i-Ahan in the riparian area of Rajanpur against the suspects. Members of the Chotu gang have taken shelter in a 10km-long piece of land which is surrounded by water.

Rangers, Elite Force commandos, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and Punjab Police personnel also participated in the operation.

According to sources, Chotu gang members were offered to surrender before the forces resorted to air strikes.

During the operation at least four suspects belonging to the gang were killed and 10 were arrested by the forces.

According to sources, two military gunship helicopters of Pakistan Army will be provided to the forces if need be. However, no such need of helicopters for air strikes is evident thus far.

Last year law enforcement agencies used military gunship helicopters in Dera Ghazi Khan against suspects. The forces successfully cleared the area from threats of terrorism after 18 years.

According to a statement, IG Punjab Sukhera said the fight against terrorism has entered its final stage.

The mortar attack by Rangers had proved visible support to police against the gang members, he added.

Speaking to The Express Tribune police officer Ahsan at DPO Rajanpur said that the operation has been going on for the last 15 days in the area. The operation is being conducted in the very remote area where no mobile service is available.

However, while answering a question, Ahsan said there is no confirmation about whether or not the request for military helicopters has been approved.

“Over 1,600 security personnel are taking part in the operation,” he added.

Three policemen killed in Rajanpur raid - The Express Tribune

 

[pkuser2k12]

Chotu gang kills six policemen, holds 16 hostage in Rajanpur's Kacha Jamal​

Last Updated On 13 April,2016 02:47 pm



RAJANPUR (Dunya News) – Six police personnel have been killed, nine injured and 16 held hostage by Chotu gang after law enforcement agency entered Kacha Jamal on eleventh day of operation, Dunya News reported Wednesday.

Around 150 personnel rowed boats to Kacha Jamal at 3am prompting criminals to open fire.

Reportedly, woodland in Kacha Jamal, gang’s centre of operations is making police movement difficult.

1,600 personnel belonging to Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Rangers, army and Punjab Police have cleared around 70 percent Kacha area while more than 50 check posts have been established.

A control room has also been formed in Rahim Yar Khan whereas Inspector General (IG) Punjab is frequently inspecting all the activities.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Bhawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, District Police Officer (DPO) Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur are participating in the operation to encourage security officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, police had sought two gunship copters for aerial operation against the culprits.

Gang’s leader, Ghulam Rasool Bakhrani alias Chotu has head money of Rs 20 lac while as many as 48 cases pertaining to kidnapping for ransom, murder, dacoities among other crimes are registered against him in different police stations.

First case against Chotu was filed on August 7, 1987.


The gang is also associated with anti-state elements including Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Earlier it was reported that India-manufactured weapons were seized from arrested armed men in the operation.

At least 100 people constitute the notorious gang that has survived as many as seven police operations in the past.

More than 160 dacoits and miscreants backed by terror outfits and anti-state elements have been copped so far in security operation in Kacha Jamal area.


Dunya News:

Chotu gang kills six policemen, holds 16 hostage in Rajanpur's Kacha Jamal - Pakistan - Dunya News

Only police took part in this current operation

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ​

 

[Icarus]

The Police is incredibly inept and this is just one case in a long line of incidents which shows just how imperative it has become to reform the Police and build the entire institution from the ground up. I often speak for the Police and urge members to give them their due, treat them with respect and acknowledge when they do good. However, the existing institution utterly fails at the one task assigned to it, these men who have been lost and taken hostage, regrettable as it is, were taken due to their own sheer inability to perform basic law enforcing operations, or even defend themselves for that matter against a band of mere thugs. The rest of the force should continue with the operation as planned and not account for these men, if they are recovered safely then good for them but disciplinary action must still be taken, however it must not be like last time when the same gang was able to take several policemen hostage along with an armoured personnel carrier by some miracle that I am at a loss to explain, and the entire operation had to be called off for securing their release.

If the same operation was entrusted to the Army, two companies could probably start at dawn and have the area cleared by mid-noon.

 

[Dervesh786]

this is a special forces job, not for fat tubby lathi carrying police

 

[optimisticlad]

extremely sad ...

350 bullets and 3 grenades issued to every ahelkaaar taking part in the operation....no close air support could be availed up till now...
operation paused after the policeman taken hostages........

 

[The Sandman]

Let the rangers handle this our police do not have proper training/weapons for such operation. imo

 

[Mustang06]

Is there any SWAT like unit in the state police?

 

[Kompromat]

Just send in the gunships and rip them up.

 

[Icarus]

Is there any SWAT like unit in the state police?

There's a SWAT based Elite Force with every District but most of the Elite Force Commandos are posted for VIP Details. They're involved in this operation as well but they're not trained for operating in open, bush terrain. They're trained for urban engagement and the absence of any cover, coupled with the gang's strategic position on an island with rivers on both sides makes it very difficult for the Elite guys to break through to them.