11 gang members surrender in Rajanpur’s Katcha as police target Umrani gang

At least 11 highly wanted and dangerous members of the Umrani gang 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 hideouts of criminals.

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

Read: Katcha area thief with Rs 10 million reward surrenders in Rahim Yar Khan

District Police Officer (DPO) Rajanpur Muhammad Imran said the arrested robbers were long wanted in multiple cases including kidnapping, murder and armed robbery. He added that the suspects will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law and will receive due punishment.

The DPO said an intense exchange of fire was still taking place between the police and the robbers remaining 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 praised the officers involved in the operation. He said the drive to eliminate crime in katcha areas would continue in full force.

Last week, notorious katcha area bandit Mera Lathani, who was carrying money 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 robbers from Shikarpur district in Sindh also laid down their arms. Many of them carried rewards and officials described the development as a turning point for areas long plagued by crime and lawlessness.

The surrenders were carried out under President Asif Ali Zardari’s surrender policy approved in 2024, which aimed to restore peace and recover the katcha areas that fell under the Sukkur and Larkana divisions. According to the policy, surrendered bandits must face pending criminal cases before being eligible for inclusion in the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).