Sindh police forces have cleared the riverine areas of Kandhkot of dacoits following the execution of Operation Nijat-e-Mehran [1].
The crackdown targets bandit activity in the Kacha regions to restore law and order and ensure the safety of local residents. Because these riverine areas often serve as hideouts for organized crime, the operation represents a significant effort by the provincial government to reclaim territorial control.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh, Javed Alam Odho, said the operation has been intensified since January 2024 [1]. The increased security pressure has led to a series of confrontations and strategic surrenders in the region.
"The operation has been intensified since January and we have neutralised 32 bandits while arresting more than 100 suspects," Odho said [1].
The police report that 32 bandits were killed during the campaign [1]. Additionally, officers arrested more than 100 suspects linked to the criminal networks operating in the riverine terrain [1].
Beyond the arrests and fatalities, the Sindh police have noted a change in the behavior of the remaining dacoits. The strategy of maintaining high security pressure has encouraged some criminals to give up their weapons and surrender to the state.
An unnamed Sindh police spokesperson said, "We are seeing a steady flow of dacoits surrendering voluntarily as the security pressure increases" [1].
The operation focuses specifically on the Kandhkot area, where the geography of the Kacha regions, characterized by dense riverine forests and waterways, has historically provided cover for bandits. The current initiative aims to dismantle these strongholds permanently to prevent the resurgence of kidnapping and robbery in the province.
“"The operation has been intensified since January and we have neutralised 32 bandits while arresting more than 100 suspects."”
The success of Operation Nijat-e-Mehran suggests a shift toward more aggressive territorial clearing in Sindh's riverine zones. By combining lethal force with an environment that encourages voluntary surrender, the Sindh police are attempting to break the cycle of banditry that has long plagued the Kacha areas. The long-term stability of the region will depend on whether the state can maintain a permanent security presence to prevent dacoits from returning once the primary operation concludes.
