Karachi, April 4 Dacoits in the riverbed areas, who previously robbed people on highways between the Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan, have now started stealing equipment, including surveillance cameras, installed for the safety of travelers.
The worst affected area is a 200-kilometer stretch on the Sukkur-Multan motorway (a road with controlled access) from Sukkur in Sindh to Rahim Yar Khan in the Punjab province.
A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that these dacoits have removed surveillance cameras, speed cameras, solar panels, lights, accessories, and poles.
"They have also damaged solar reflectors and turned off street lights, which makes it easier for them to carry out their activities," he said.
He revealed that dacoits have been stealing highway surveillance cameras since last month, severely hindering law enforcement's ability to monitor security and enforce speed limits.
The riverbed is the floodplain of the Indus River, which stretches thousands of square kilometers.
The section of the highway that lies in the Sindh province has been a hotbed of criminal activities for dacoits operating from the Indus riverbed. Robbery and kidnapping for ransom are also part of their routine.
The government is looking for ways to protect the equipment from further theft, the official said.