Exchange of fire: Notorious dacoit shot dead in encounter with police

Two of Nazar Ali's accomplices, two policemen were also killed, SHO injured

SUKKUR: The last of the most wanted dacoits of the province, who had terrorised the people of Upper Sindh for over 20 years, was shot dead along with two of his accomplices in an exchange of fire with the police in Deval Kambrani, the katcha area of Garhi Yasin in Shikarpur district, late on Friday night. Two policemen were also killed in the encounter, while an SHO was injured.

Nazar Ali alias Nazroo Narejo, who carried a bounty of Rs20 million, was killed along with his brother-in-law Sarwar alias Saroo Narejo and son Rab Rakhio Narejo during a police operation that also claimed the lives of policemen Mujeeb Chachar and Haji Ismi Chachar. Meanwhile, the Raza Goth SHO, Hidayatullah Abbasi, sustained bullet wounds and was rushed to Combined Military Hospital in Pano Akil, where he is said to be in a stable condition.

According to the police, Ali's body was shifted to the Garhi Yasin taluka hospital while the bodies of Sarwar and Rab Rakhio were taken away by their comrades. The bodies of the slain policemen were sent to Pano Akil after post-mortem, where they were laid to rest in their respective villages.

Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali announced compensation of Rs10 million each for the families of the martyred policemen, while Sukkur SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio also announced a reward of Rs2.5 million each for the slain cops. The reward will be paid from the head money for Ali.

The IG, Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah and home minister Suhail Anwar Sial reportedly called SSP Tunio to appreciate his efforts to rid the area of criminals.

Talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Tunio claimed that the slain dacoit was involved in over 200 cases of heinous crimes, including murder, kidnapping for ransom and highway robberies. He added that Sarwar was also involved in dozens of crimes and carried head money of Rs1 million.

Sources in the police department informed The Express Tribune that Ali was also involved in killing some police officers in Larkana and Shikarpur districts. They added that the details of the cases against the criminals were being collected from various police stations in Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze and Larkana districts.

The sardar of dacoits

Allegedly supported by influential persons, Ali had become near invincible in the 20 years that he ruled the criminal sphere in the region. A DSP, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the dacoit was so powerful that he even extorted money from police officers and politicians.

"He had become a sardar for the dacoits of Sindh and Balochistan, who used to bring kidnappees to him for dealing with the families and the police," said the DSP, who added that he had killed Ali's brother, Ameer Narejo, in an encounter two years ago. "Any dacoit seeking shelter with him was safe from the law enforcers."

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.