DERA GHAZI KHAN: Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal and Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali visitedRojhan,Rajanpur district, on Friday to get a briefing on the ongoing operation against criminal gangs in kutcha area of Indus.

The chief secretary and the IGP chaired a meeting and also visited the kutcha area police posts. South Punjab Additional Chief Secretary retired Capt Saqib Aziz, Dera CommissionerMuhammad Usman Anwar and RPO Muhammad Saleem were present on the occasion.

The IGP said concrete steps should be taken under short-and long-term plan for permanent eradication of criminal elements from kutcha areas in south Punjab and all organised gangs including Lund Gang, Sukhani Gang and their facilitators would be brought to book at the earliest.

Asking police to intensify search and intelligence-based operations against criminal gangs, the IGP said a coordination with police and the administration of Sindh and Balochistan would be further improved so that the criminals of these gangs could not escape.

Rao Sardar Ali said police pickets in the area would be given the status of permanent police posts and new roads and bridges would be constructed in this area to further improve police access.

He promised special package for policemen ñghungonthefronthne.

The chief secretary said the Punjab governmenthad decided to rehabilitate the Rajanpur kutcha area and tighten the cordon around criminals.

The two of ficers visited Bihar Machhi and Basti Dolani pickets and reviewed operation.

The Rajanpur DPO briefed them on the law and order situation in the area. He said 17 new police pickets had been set up.

The Dera commissioner and the Rajanpur DC gave a briefing on basic facilities of schools, hospitals and infrastructure in the area.

The chief secretary ordered completion of the ongoing projects like roads, schools and hospitals in the area. He said a plan was under consideration to give the locals jobs to keep them away from outlaws.

The IGP also visited Rojhan Centre of Excellence and the SDPO Of fice.

Meanwhile, Dera Ghazi Khan police have foiled an attempt to smuggle weapons into Punjab and arrested two smugglers af ter regi str ation of a case against them at the Saddar police station.

HILL TORRENTS: Following heavy rains in mountain ranges of Koh-iSulaiman, hill torrents damaged roads and washed away crops in Rajanpur.

Following a spate in Kaha Sultan and Chachhar, especially in the areas of Pachad, several villages have been disconnected with main towns.

Residents of floodaf fected areas are shif ting to safer places on their own due to lack of relief activities by the district administration.