Chotu gang surrenders to security forces, 24 hostage cops got released: ISPR

RAJANPUR (Web Desk) – The gangster along-with his 12 accomplices of notorious bandit Chotu gang surrendered before
Pakistan Army in an island in the southern part of Punjab on Wednesday, Director General ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa said.

In addition to the surrender of bandits, he said in a televised message, the 24 armed policemen, earlier hostaged by the
gang have also been managed to release safely from the clutches of the surrendering gang.

DG ISPR stated that the armed forces have also safely recovered 72 kins of the bandit gang including 24 women, 44 children
and four elderly men.

"They all are in the custody of the Army and are being taken care of accordingly," he said. Meanwhile, he said that the concerned authorities have started formal interrogation of Chotu while the released policemen along with the kins of gangsters are being transported from the island.

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has felicitated and appreciated the role of operation commander of Pakistan army, who along with the contingent of Rangers carried out successful operation against the bandit gang. He said that the COAS had instructed the operation commander that there should have been no loss of life during the operation and the operational force made every effort to comply with the instructions.

He said that the operation in the island which had been a "No Go Area" will continue till purging out all the criminals and anti-state elements.

"Operation will continue till the elimination of each one of the bandit on the island," he said. Similarly, he said in a firm tone that all the No Go Areas across the country will be cleared and no terrorist or criminal will let go.

Forces abandoned their posts and ran into the jungle during the operation. Meanwhile their hideouts were also destroyed during shelling by the Pak army.

Op in Kacha:Chhotu with his 13 gang members surrendered unconditionally,all 24 hostage policemen rescued safely-1 pic.twitter.com/TyMbPNIvgJ

— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) April 20, 2016

Op in Kacha:Families of dacoits recovered safely from Island;24 ladies,44 children.Op continues till last dacoit-2 pic.twitter.com/1Hd1t0bg2m

— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) April 20, 2016

Pak army’s helicopter air dropped pamphlets warning the suspects to lay down their weapons and surrender.

Earlier last week, police failed in operation against the gang and 24 cops were taken hostage. Some seven personnel were killed including a station house officer (SHO).

Around 150 army paratroopers landed in the troubled area while another 500 reached the site by road after the failed attempt of police.

It was also said that Chotu gang had the backing of terrorist outfits and had links with anti-state elements including Baloch Liberation Army (BLF) and had survived at least seven operations in the past.