Most Feared Dacoit of ‘Kacha’ Area Surrenders in Punjab Province
By Muhammad Awais :
In a significant development for law enforcement in Punjab province, Tanveer Andhar, described as the “most dangerous dacoit” active in the riverine Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan, has surrendered along with his accomplice Zafri Jabeel, police officials announced.
The surrender ceremony presented a striking image: a long-haired, medium-built man standing with an anti-aircraft gun alongside his slender accomplice, while the District Police Officer of Rahim Yar Khan briefed the media on the operation.
The two wanted men had a combined bounty of one crore rupees on their heads.
Major Breakthrough
District Police Officer Irfan Samo confirmed that Tanveer Andhar is the ringleader of the Andhar gang and was wanted by police in dozens of cases, including murder and robbery.
According to police, the surrender of these two brings the total number of dacoits who have laid down arms in Rahim Yar Khan to 229. Officials also claim that in ongoing operations, 69 dacoits have been killed and 97 others arrested while injured.
The DPO stated that this gang was wanted in 45 serious cases, including the Multan motorway attack and the killing of five police personnel.
Notorious History
The Andhar gang first made headlines in 2021 when a dozen gunmen on motorcycles opened fire at a petrol pump in Sadiqabad, killing nine people. The horrifying incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the petrol station, and videos later circulated widely on social media.
Local police said at the time that the armed men belonged to the Andhar gang, which had been active in the area for several years. The gang’s chief at that time, Jan Muhammad alias Jano Andhar, was also among the attackers.
“Most Brutal Leader”
Speaking to BBC correspondent Sher Ali Khalti about Tanveer Andhar’s surrender, DPO Irfan Samo described him as “the most brutal leader of the Andhar gang so far.”
Samo claimed that there are now no “no-go areas” left on Punjab’s map, nor any organized gangs operating in the region. He stated that dacoits who surrender will be dealt with according to law and produced in courts.
A former police officer who served in Rahim Yar Khan, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that Tanveer Andhar was involved in the murder of several police personnel. He claimed that “Tanveer Andhar surrendered at the behest of a political figure.”
Background of the Gang
The Andhar gang is considered one of the major dacoit gangs operating in the Kacha area along the border between southern Punjab and Sindh.
In 2021, former Punjab Assembly member Mumtaz Chang told the BBC that “this gang had become much larger than the Chhutto gang, which was eliminated in a military operation a few years ago.” He claimed that Andhar gang members used to extort monthly protection money from “more than 60 percent of shops and businessmen” in the Chowk Mahi area of Sadiqabad tehsil in Punjab. “Those who refused were abducted and threatened with death.”
According to him, besides resources, the other major challenge for police in eliminating this gang was that the Kacha area where the dacoits were hiding spanned two provinces—Punjab and Sindh. “If police from one area pursued them, they would flee to the other area, making it difficult for police to follow them.”
History of Encounters
A local police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that the story begins in 2016. In July of that year, Rahim Yar Khan police claimed to have killed seven dacoits of the Andhar gang in a purported operation. The incident was reported in newspapers at the time, with questions raised about the police claims regarding the operation.
The police official claimed that these seven dacoits were actually killed in a police encounter in Kashmore, and afterward, Rahim Yar Khan police brought their bodies to Chowk Mahi. Chowk Mahi is located on the border of Punjab and Sindh, and dacoits typically hide in the Kacha areas of both provinces.
According to the police official, “the bodies of these dacoits were publicly placed on the road in Chowk Mahi. At that time, the public gathered there raised slogans in favor of Punjab Police.”
Among those killed was Khamiso Andhar, brother of the then-gang leader Jano Andhar.
In 2023, police claimed to have killed Jano Andhar along with five of his accomplices in a joint operation. After Jano Andhar’s death, Tanveer Andhar was made the leader of the gang.
According to the then DPO Rahim Yar Khan Rizwan Umar Gondal, the killed dacoits were wanted by police in connection with the murder of more than ten officers and personnel of Punjab and Sindh police over the previous four years.
What is the Kacha Area?
As the Indus River flows southward, its currents slow and its breadth increases. Near southern Punjab, its expanse transforms it from a single large river into multiple streams, between which numerous small islands emerge. Access to these islands is difficult due to sandy terrain and the absence of roads.
Dacoits have turned this difficulty into their advantage, creating sanctuaries here, spreading terror in surrounding areas, taking refuge beyond the reach of police, and when necessary, confronting law enforcement.
This riverine belt is located at the confluence of southern Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the federally administered tribal areas. Since colonial times, it has served as a hiding place for dacoits and insurgents fighting for freedom. Situated between different jurisdictions, the area remains difficult for law enforcement to access.
About Author
