In a sad incident on Tuesday, 15 policemen were injured in a firing by riverine dacoits on two veins of mobile police in Rahim Yar Khan. The attack happened when the police personnel were coming back to Rahim Yar Khan from Machka Camp 2 which is situated in the riverine area.
The ambush occurred when one of the police vehicles developed a mechanical problem due to stagnated flood water. Pouncing the opportunity to cause mayhem the dacoits fired rockets at the NOW stranded police van, emerging to have killed fifteen officers. Two other officers were hurt, and at least four policemen disappeared.
Following the attack, it was mobilized the police units in the region and increased the level of security measures in the whole province. The Punjab government declared an emergency in Shaikh Zaid Hospital and THQ Hospital Sadiqabad and no leaves were granted to doctors and other paramedical staff so they could provide medical aid to the injured medical officers.
Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Nawaz Sharif and IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar took immediate cognizance of the incident and called for a detailed report from the RPO Bahawalpur and DPO Rahim Yar Khan. However,, a police spokesman said that nine policemen were shot dead and four others were injured.
It has elicited a lot of critique. Speaking on the incident President Asif Ali Zardari expressed outrage over the attack on police convoy and condoled the families of the elite force martyrs. He demanded the toughest punishment should be inflicted on the militants involved in the attack and saluted the courage of the deceased policemen.
Other representatives of the authorities that commented on the tragedy included the Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Nawaz and Deputy Commissioner Khurram Parvaiz, who also prayed for the victims’ souls, as well as gave condolences to the aggrieved. The District Bar Association declared a black day asking the legal fraternity across the district not to attend courts and termed the attack as a despicable act against law enforcement agencies.
This evil act has also brought to light the existing volatility of the security situation in the Kacha region where forces of law and order are still struggling with gangs.