An anti-terrorism court (ATC) Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday awarded 298 years in prison to three gangsters including notorious Chhotu gang ring leader, Ghulam Rasool alias Chhotu, for killing two policemen in 2011, South Punjab News reported.
Trial of Cchuto gang was held in District Jail Dera Ghazi Khan due to security reason andATC judge announced the verdict in their presence. The other gangsters who have been convicted by the court were identified as Sher Khan and Ghulam Rasool Kahu.
The ATC DG Khan has awarded 298 years in prison to Chotu gang ring leader, Ghulam Rasool alias Chotu and Sher Khan. The court has also ordered both culprits to submit Rs200,000 each as fine.
Meanwhile, Ghulam Rasool Kahu, another member of the notorious Chotu gang has been awarded 308 years in prison with a fine of Rs200,000.
Earlier in March, at least 20 gangsters including those affiliated with infamous Chotu gang were awarded death sentence by the anti-terrorism court Multan on charges of killing policemen in 2016.
The convicts also include the Chotu Gang leader Ghulam Rasool aka Chotu. The criminals were accused of murdering six policemen in Rajanpur three years ago.
The other gangs who have been convicted by the court were identified as Sikhani gang, Inder gang and Changwani gang.
Police had sought help of Army and Rangers on April 13, 2016, in the fight against Chotu Gang in Rajanpur district following deaths of six policemen including a station house officer (SHO).
The river forests in Sindh and southern belt of Punjab have remained a hotbed of bandit gangs involved in kidnappings and other crimes on both banks of the Indus River.
The areas are inaccessible and virtually remained a no-go area for police and other law enforcement agencies – thus an ideal refuge for the outlaws operating in the region.At least 20 gangsters including those affiliated with infamous Chotu gang were awarded death sentence by the anti-terrorism court on Tuesday on charges of killing policemen in 2016.
The convicts also include the Chotu Gang leader Ghulam Rasool aka Chotu. The criminals were accused of murdering six policemen in Rajanpur three years ago.Police had sought help of Army and Rangers on April 13, 2016, in the fight against Chotu Gang in Rajanpur district following deaths of six policemen including a station house officer (SHO).
The river forests in Sindh and southern belt of Punjab have remain a hotbed of bandit gangs involved in kidnappings and other crimes on the both banks of the Indus River.
The areas are inaccessible and virtually remained a no-go area for police and other law enforcement agencies – thus an ideal refuge for the outlaws operating in the region.
Former chief minister of Punjab, Dost Muhammad Khosa at that time, had said it was not possible that bandits live in an area and the public representatives of the constituency were unaware of their presence.
He alleged that the gangsters enjoyed the backing of some members of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The other gangs who have been convicted by the court were identified as Sikhani gang, Inder gang and Changwani gang.
The battle between security forces and the bandits’ gang continued over 20 days in the riverine area of Rajanpur and eventually the operation ended with arrest and surrender of the gang before Pakistan Army soldiers.
Sources informed that Ghulam Rasool was moved to unidentified location via helicopter, reported our correspondent Raja Shahid
While his 273 accomplices, rounded up during the operation, will be handed over to Punjab police today, sources added.
The authorities on April 15 had sent 150 soldiers to help rescue 24 police held hostage by a gang of heavily armed criminals after a bungled raid on their island stronghold.
Up to 1,500 officers were involved in the failed raid against some 150 men armed with rocket launchers and machine guns, authorities said.
Six policemen had already been killed in the operation launched last week against members of the “Chotu gang” on an island in the Indus river.
“Our cops attempted to reach their base by two boats in the river, and the criminals came right in front of them and there was heavy exchange of fire,” a police official in the operation said.
The criminals were armed with “rocket launchers, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns”, he said.
“We called the army for help and are evolving a new strategy,” district police chief Ghulam Mubashir Maken had stated.
The operation against the gang began on April 1 with police confining the gang members to a roughly 10 kilometre area.
