RAHIM YAR KHAN: The kidnapping of four people on March 21 by criminals on the SukkurMultan Motorway (M-5) at the border of districts Rahim Yar Khan and Ghotki has sparked concerns about the National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) officials` working for the security and safety of motorists.

The perpetrators kidnapped Hussain Solangi, Shabbir Ahmed Solangi,and two other people from Kashmore`s Goth Mithal Khan near the Guddo interchange in the Ghotki area.

The gang also shot fire on a bus and a truck, injuring two people. The 392-kilometer SukkurMultan Motorway stretch opened in October 2019.

Despite the fact that the section is equipped with theIntelligenceTransport System and that every kilometre is monitored by its main control centre at Taranda Muhammad Pannah in Rahim YarKhan, the kidnapping occurred.

The portion is divided into seven sections varying in length from 54km to 57km. On February 25, 13 people died and 20 were injured in a traffic accident near Rahim Yar Khan`s Zahirpir area.

The NHMP also monitors the vehicles through the tracking system.

Sources in the NHMP say that despite the latest ITS, the theft of cable theft by criminals from the stretch of M-5 has started.Sources say that there are six patrolling teams in each section of 54km, but after the recent theft cases, the number of teams increased to eight.

To check the criminal activities, the NHMP also wrote letters to the Punjab police and Rangers for the deployment of forces along M-5 on Nov 9, 2022, Dec 12, 2022, and March 5.

As crime surged into the area, 145 police pickets were established along M-5 to monitor the criminals. To prevent crimes,the deployment of AntiCrime Squads has also begun.

Furthermore, the mechanism of a joint patrolling system was also introduced to watch the movement of vehicles on the motorway. Sources added that after the theft of cables, the ITS could not be monitored by the NHMP.

The spokesperson for the M-5, Muhammad Nasir Sial, said that M-5 was the safest motorway for motorists. He said that because there was lessload of traffic on it, motorists travel more comfortably on it. He claimed that in thelastfouryears after M-5 was functional, it was the first incident of kidnapping on the motorway.

Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer Rizwan Umar Gondal said that the notorious Shar Gang of the Katcha area was involved in the kidnapping of motorists.

He said the police were coordinating and helping the Ghotki police in the recovery of kidnapped people.