Kandhkot police launch operation

SUKKUR: An operation against the outlaws in the katcha area of Kandhkot continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

Last Friday, a police constable was killed and three others were injured when they were taken by surprise by outlaws within the limits of the Gublo police station. The victims, belonging to the Gublo police, were returning to the station from village Mehar Sabzoi where they had arrested three hardened criminals, Allah Jurio, Mehboob and Shaukat, in a raid when they were attacked by 20 armed suspects. As a result, constable Sadiq Bajkani was killed on the spot while SHO Bashir Mugheri and constables Zakir Badani and Ali Muhammad Soomro were injured.

Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Fida Hussain Jawri, along with a large contingent of police, rushed to the scene and an exchange of fire ensued between the attackers and police. However, the attackers managed to flee the scene, taking away official weapons and a police van with them.

Later, the police found its van, after which it is said that they torched the hideouts of the criminals in the katcha area of Kandhkot and took their animals into custody.

According to sources, so far, the police have not made any headway in the operation as the criminals have moved across the river and disappeared.

Meanwhile, Janwri told The Express Tribune that since Friday's incident, he has been in the katcha area with a large contingent of police and exchanges of fire are continuing.

"We have arrested two suspects from the area and recovered some official weapons, so far," said Janwri, adding that police have demolished the hideouts of the criminals. However, he denied taking over the suspects' animals into custody.

"Police were ambushed by the outlaws due to whom they couldn't retaliate, otherwise the situation would have been different," he said, resolving to continue the operation till all the suspects were caught.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2017.