Chotu dacoit may flee fourth time

ISLAMABAD: Notorious Chotu dacoit while breaking the siege might flee in the coming hours due to non-availability and support of gunship helicopter from the federal government.

The sources in the Punjab government told ‘The News’ if Chotu fled away this time, it would be his fourth escape from grand operation.

Around sixteen hundred police personnel along with Rangers and Pak Army had been besieging the riverine area since last week when ‘The News’ broke this story about launching of grand operation against criminals including Chotu dacoit.

The Interior Ministry has not yet responded to the request of Punjab government about provision of gunship helicopters in the operation.

Chotu dacoit since one and a half months had been stationing at the two police check posts located at Kachi Jamal 1 and 2 at the junction of five rivers in District Rajan Pur.

Chotu dacoit along with his well equipped one hundred accomplices is planning to breach the siege with the flow of water in the Indus River as all dacoits are the best swimmers.

The police usually avoided to enter the river because of excessive firing from the dacoits and deep water in the river.

Currently police have established its pickets on the one side of the river located at Bangla Icha and Kachi Morro.

Chotu dacoit occupied various areas on the other bank of the river.

According to sources, if this time Chotu dacoit managed to escape, he would knock out all the strategy and Punjab government machinery.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab who visited the Rajan Pur district was also apprised by the local law enforcement agencies about expected escape of Chotu dacoit due to non-availability of gunship helicopters.  The police required areal support in the operation through gunship helicopters.