Epic failure: ASI killed and seven injured in two police encounters

The authorities were searching for 10 stolen buffaloes.

SUKKUR: A police officer, a suspect and two villagers were killed while four policemen were injured in an encounter in the Daman Lolai village near the katcha area of Gemro in the last 48 hours, said the Ghotki district police.

On Sunday morning, the authorities cordoned the village off and proceeded to conduct a raid in Mohammad Moosa alias Mooso Lolai, a most wanted criminal’s hometown, to find missing buffaloes. During the raid a group of men opened fire at the police and killed ASI Altaf Korai. A suspect identified as Goro Lolai and two villagers identified as Anwar Lolai and Abid Ogahi were also killed in the encounter. Two other suspects were injured but they managed to escape.

The head constable of the Gemro police station, Shabaan Kolachi, told The Express Tribune that four days ago a group of men had stolen 10 buffaloes from the Ogahi village. The villagers had followed the footprints of the suspects which led them to the Daman Lolai village and informed the police immediately.

He said that the police launched a raid in the village to find the buffaloes but had an encounter with the suspects instead. DSP Ghotki Ayaz Memon said that ASI Korai had been killed but could not confirm the three other casualties.

On Sunday night, the police carried out another raid in the village and were attacked by the suspects once again. Four policemen including head constable Mohammad Afzal were injured and taken to Civil Hospital, Ghotki. Afzal and police constable Rahib Ali Ghoto and Gul Mohammad Bhutto were sent to the military hospital in Pannu Aqil.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2012.