A Rawalpindi’s Village Where Crime Never Sleeps

Abdullah Malik

Chauntra: While Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar often dominate Pakistan’s crime headlines, it is the rural outskirts of Rawalpindi—along the increasingly infamous Chakri Road—where Thana Chauntra has emerged as one of the country’s most persistent crime hotspots.

Once established in 1960 to serve quiet farming villages, Chauntra police station today stands at the heart of a community transformed by land mafias, drug networks, and armed violence. Unlike Lyari or FR Peshawar, which have seen intermittent control, Chauntra’s violent reputation has endured for decades.

A Catalogue of Crime

The area has witnessed some of Rawalpindi’s worst incidents. In July 2020, a land dispute in Mial village escalated into a massacre when a proclaimed offender and his gunmen killed nine people, including women and children. The trial concluded only in April 2024, sentencing five men to death—a verdict many saw as overdue.

Between 2020 and 2024, Rawalpindi recorded nearly 1,500 homicides. Police arrested more than 3,300 suspects, but over 1,200 remain at large, and many cases are still pending.

In February 2025, a police raid to arrest two proclaimed offenders turned into a shootout, injuring two Elite Force commandos. The suspects escaped, and an FIR under the Anti-Terrorism Act followed—an indication of the paramilitary-level threat in the area.

From Farmlands to Frontlines

The roots of Chauntra’s decline lie in urban expansion and soaring property values. As Rawalpindi’s city limits pushed outward, criminal interests moved in. Locals say the late 1990s marked a turning point, when armed land-grabbing networks—some allegedly shielded by political protection—took hold.

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“Back in the 70s, people didn’t even lock their doors,” recalls Muhammad Iqbal, 78. “Now, people don’t leave their houses after dark.”

Guns, Raids, and Real Estate

The land mafia dominates Chauntra’s criminal ecosystem, protected by money and alleged political ties. A string of raids highlights their reach:

August 2019: Seven suspects in Rajar caught with Kalashnikovs, M-16s, and hundreds of rounds.

September 2022: Raid in Sangral and Khingar netted six gangsters linked to illegal housing.

December 2022: 83 suspects arrested across Chakri and Chauntra, with weapons seized.

November 2023: A woman killed in a land dispute gunfight in Sangral; three others injured.

A teenage girl in Khengar wounded by a stray bullet during aerial firing tied to illegal development.

Even the police have been implicated. In early 2023, then SHO Inspector Rana Zulfiqar was dismissed for allegedly protecting land mafias.

A Village Living in Fear

Residents describe a climate of fear and silence.

“Evening life has died here,” says Abdul Latif, a shopkeeper. “People shut their businesses early. No one feels safe.” Women and children are particularly vulnerable. “I don’t let my daughters go to school alone,” says Sajida Bibi, a mother of four. “Every week, we hear about some kidnapping or assault.”

The young echo the same fears. “My grandfather remembers a peaceful Chauntra,” says Ali, 19. “But I’ve only known fear. We pray my father returns safe from Rawalpindi every night.”

Police Outgunned, Outnumbered

Despite repeated raids, police admit they are no match for the criminals.  “We are outnumbered, outgunned, and under-equipped,” says a Chauntra constable. “They have Kalashnikovs. We barely have working radios.”

In 2024, Rawalpindi registered 1,600 illegal arms cases, many traced back to Chauntra. Recovered items included automatic rifles, pistols, and thousands of bullets. SHO Khalid Mehmood concedes the challenge: “The geography favors criminals, and many locals fear retribution. We need not just manpower, but intelligence, political will, and public trust.”

More Than a Policing Problem

Experts argue that Chauntra’s crisis goes beyond law enforcement. “Chauntra needs long-term investment, more police posts, community policing, fast-track courts, and freedom from political meddling,” says retired SP Tariq Javed. “Without that, nothing will change.”

Locals agree. “We know who the criminals are,” says Abdul Hameed, a farmer. “But people won’t speak unless they feel protected. The police must earn our trust.”

Chauntra at a Crossroads

More than 60 years since its founding, Thana Chauntra now stands as a symbol of the collapse of rural law and order. While Rawalpindi’s core develops tech parks and gated communities, Chauntra remains trapped in violence, corruption, and fear.

No longer just a village crime story, Chauntra reflects a broader challenge for the tate—restoring governance where its authority has been hollowed out.