LAHORE: Ghulam Rasool alias
Chhotu dacoit is still in the custody of Pakistan
army for interrogation and the
names of senior politicians and government
officials who have been patronising him have reportedly been exposed during investigation.
Sources in intelligence agency told The News that the rumours about the handing over
Chhotu to police were still baseless. He and his accomplices have been kept at an unk**wn location for further interrogation. Sources further said the information squeezed out from
Chhotu was being kept top secret.
However, the investigators of Pakistan
army privy to the development said
Chhotu has exposed
names of politicians and civil bureaucrats who had been patronising him throughout. To a query, a senior ******r said following the surrender of
Chhotu and his 12 accomplices, the major force of Pakistan
army was withdrawn. It is also learnt that as a result of heavy shelling by gunship helicopters after the surrender of Chhotu, ** members of other criminal gangs were arrested or killed during the six-day long operation.
Finally, the
army handed over the operation to Rangers and police to continue tracking the criminals. The ******r said
army had mainly focused on the release of hostages and arrest of
Chhotu so it accomplished the task and left the area. He further said
army carried out combing operation and exchange of fire was also reported between the forces and criminals.
It is worth mentioning that Punjab government had constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to grill
Chhotu and his accomplices and to k**w about his nexus with police and politicians. The JIT is still waiting for Chhotu's custody. It is being said the first statement of
Chhotu in the custody of
army would be critical and set further course of investigation.
A senior police ******r privy to the development said as
Chhotu had surrendered before
army on a condition that he would **t be handed over to police and
army would ensure that he would **t be killed once handed over to them. He further said the troops had carried out operation in a very different situation at a time when the ground was prepared by the police. He said the role of police could **t be denied as it had laid sacrifice of seven policemen. He said the situation had gone out of control due to the hostages, and also because the police did **t have gunship helicopters.
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