RAHIM YAR KHAN: Jan Muhammad alias Janu Indhar, ringleader of the Indhar dacoits gang operating in the Katcha area of the Indus, has challenged the writ of the state in his fresh message on social media.

Sharing a video of him operating an anti-aircraft gun, Janu threatened to take on local political figures who were pressing the Punjab government to launch another operation in the area instead of mediating with them.

Notorious for abducting people for ransom from RY Khan and Rajanpur (the other side of the river), the gang is believed to have lifted six people from Sadiqabad tehsil during the last one week.

PPP MPA Nawazabad Mumtaz Ali Chang who attended a meeting on law and order in Lahore with the prime minister in the chair on Sunday, said Janu had hurled threats in wake of the meeting.

He said the outlaw had challenged him, PML-N MNA Sheikh Fiaz, PPP MPAs Makhdoom Usman, Riaz Mahmood Mazari and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Doost Muhammad Mazari.

Chang said he had been facing threats from the gang since long because he was supporting families of the nine persons slain by the gang in October last.

He accused PTI district president Rais Mahboob of backing the Indhar gang but the later rejected the charge.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022