Operation against dacoits in Shikarpur halted: police official

RAJANPUR: Two policemen abducted from South Punjab’s kaccha area by a gang of dacoits have still not been recovered, a private source reported on Saturday.

According to Rajanpur police, today is the third day of an ongoing operation for their recovery.

Police said that the two abducted policemen, Irfan Manzoor and Arshad, were stationed at a police post near the kaccha area, from where they were abducted three days ago.

Rajanpur police said that the Laadi gang, who has the abductees, has demanded the release of their comrades in exchange for the release of the officers.

According to the political administration, the front and temporary shelters of the Laadi gang have been burnt down during the operation, after which gang members have gone into hiding.

The administration says 15 suspects were also arrested in the past day.

Meanwhile, an operation against dacoits in Shikarpur, Sindh continues for the seventh day in Garhi Tegho, Director-General (DG) Larkana Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh said.

About 300 more police personnel, including 200 commandos from Karachi, have joined the operation. A house-to-house search is also being carried out in kaccha areas, he added.

The official noted that an exchange of fire took place between dacoits and police personnel during the operation. Two dacoits of the Belo Teghani gang were injured in police firing, he added.

Meanwhile, police checkposts are being set up around kaccha areas. Nine out of 12 abductees who were kidnapped from this area have been recovered so far.

According to police, two policemen and a photographer have been martyred and six policemen injured during an attack by the dacoits. Meanwhile, eight dacoits have been killed and 12 injured in the operation.