DSP couple, four cops injured, 6 suspects killed in Shikarpur

Suspects were providing hideout to katcha robbers to commit crimes in the town

HYDERABAD:

A police officer couple, DSP Paras Bakhrani and her husband DSP Zahoor Soomro, was shot and injured in a security operation in Shikarpur district on Tuesday which left six suspected outlaws dead and three injured. Four policemen were also injured in the gunfight.

In a rare twist of events, the husband and wife, both officers of same rank, were fighting side by side exchanging gunfire with the dacoits while sustain gunshot injuries themselves.

The rangers assisted police action, which was sparked by a Rs2.6 million cash robbery from a trader in Shikarpur the other day, lasted for several hours in Syed Manchar Shah locality in the city's outskirts, known for a graveyard and alleged narcotics den.

SSP Shahzeb Chachar, who later led the siege of that neighbourhood after DSP Paras Bakhrani and her husband DSP Zahoor Soomro besides two constable sustained serious gunshot wounds, had earlier put the number of slain suspects at ten. Later, the figure was downgraded to six. DIG Larkana Nasir Aftab Pathan also confirmed the death toll besides informing about the wounded cops.

The civil hospital Shikarpur received six dead bodies and three injured suspects. The injured DSPs were shifted to a hospital in Sukkur district. DSP Bakhrani sustained two gunshots and DSP Soomro one. Chachar told the media that four or five more hardened criminals are still hiding in the area and the hunt for them will continues until they can be caught dead or alive. "Today I have broken their badmashi [rowdiness]," the SSP said.

"Both the DSPs are out of danger," he confirmed, especially praising DSP Bakhrani for serving in a 'hard area' despite being a woman. The slain suspects, whose bodies have been kept in the hospital's mortuary, have been identified as Shahzado Shaikh, Sabir Shaikh, Imdad Shaikh, Shahmore Shaikh, Asif Shaikh and Owais Shaikh. The injured include Ayaz Shaikh, Gul Muhammad Shaikh and Sajid Shaikh. They all belong to an allegedly notorious gang of Kuraro Shaikh and Shahzado Shaikh.

The SPP claimed recovery of a large number of weapons. He asserted that there was a nexus between the gang and the bandits of riverine areas in the crimes of kidnappings and robberies. "These shameless people brought criminals from riverine areas and facilitated them in crimes in Shikarpur's urban areas."

According to him, after the cash robbery from a trader of Anaj Mandi the police investigation traced the suspects to Syed Manchar Shah. He said later a police team led by the DSPs was sent to the locality to detain the suspects but the police were attacked with gunfire. Meanwhile, doctors from Karachi were flown to Sukkur in an air ambulance to examine the DSPs who appeared to be in the process of recovery. The encounter's FIR could not be registered by the evening.

CM Murad Ali Shah paid tributes to the bravery of police officers and personnel injured during an operation against dacoit and criminal gangs in Shikarpur.

He directed the police to intensify actions against dacoit gangs and ensure full restoration of law and order in the district.

CM Murad expressed solidarity with DSP City Shikarpur Paras Bakhrani her husband DSP Garhi Yasin Zahoor Soomro, and four injured personnel, conveying his prayers for their speedy recovery.

The CM instructed Chairman District Council Sukkur Syed Kumail Shah to arrange an air ambulance for the injured officers if necessary, ensuring they receive the best possible medical treatment.

"Dacoits who do not surrender will face strict action," warned the CM and emphasised that police have been given clear directions to uphold the state's authority in Shikarpur.