Success eludes crackdown on bandits as Kashmore operation enters fourth day

Ringleader Jagirani's residence seized; SHO was killed, three others injured when operation had kicked off on Monday

KANDHKOT: No substantial success has thus far been achieved in a police operation, launched on Monday against bandits holding at least four people hostage in the dacoit-infested Kashmore district in interior Sindh.

As the bloody clash entered its fourth day, the only victory for the police was that they successfully seized ringleader Nawab Jagirani's residence on Friday. A heavy contingent of police and rangers was deployed at the house to fight armed men while the security personnel conducted a joint operation in the area.

On Monday, the dacoits managed to attack the police using heavy weaponry, resulting in the death of station house officer (SHO) Ali Hassan of Karampur police station and injuries to at least three others.

Police's operation, headed by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bashir Ahmed Brohi, was primarily conducted in the Kandhkot's police station in Katcha area.



SSP Brohi on Friday confirmed that a series of fitful firing was underway between police and armed men. He said that 10 APCs, 12 armoured vehicles, 1,000 policemen and dozens of rangers were participating in the ongoing operation.

While the police claim that multiple robbers and criminals have been injured in the exchange of fire, no concrete numbers emerged.

According to police and the paramilitary force, the operation will continue till the arrest or death of the last robber. The dacoits will be arrested and the area will soon be cleared, SSP Brohi said.

In 2016, the ringleader of a notorious criminal gang reportedly surrendered along with 175 comrades, bringing a non-violent end to a 21-day-long operation in the riverine area of Rajanpur district of South Punjab.

The gang of Ghulam Rasool, alias Chottu, also released 24 policemen seized after the Punjab police made an unsuccessful attempt to storm the island hideout of criminals in Kacha Jamal area.