SAHIWAL, July 23: Three dacoits, who were arrested after looting a bank branch at Adda Shabeel on Sahiwal-Arifwala Road on Monday, belong to the MQM.

Identifying the fourth dacoit as Imran of Arifwala (Pakpattan), police said on Tuesday raids were being conducted to arrest him.

Those arrested Monday were identified as Qalandar Bukhsh, Mumtaz and Ghulam Nabi Memon.

“Ghulam Nabi is a relative of an influential politician of Karachi,” official sources said.

During preliminary interrogation, the dacoits confessed to have committed a number of dacoities in Sindh and wanted by police in a number of cases.

The car used in the dacoity was reportedly snatched by the dacoits.

Villagers had on Monday nabbed three dacoits who looted a bank branch after injuring its guards at Adda Shabeel on Sahiwal-Arifwala Road.

Four dacoits came to the National Bank branch at Chak No 116/9-L in a car without a registration number plate.

They shot at and injured bank guard Muhammad Sharif, held up the cashier and put Rs325,000 in a shopping bag. Other bank guard Muhammad Sharif Fauji raised alarm when the dacoits were leaving the branch. The dacoits also shot at and injured him.

Residents of adjoining area started chasing the dacoits on motorcycles. The dacoits opened fire, the villagers retaliated.

The shootout continued for an hour after which three dacoits were nabbed the and money recovered by villagers.

Their fourth accomplice escaped. Four villagers were also injured during the crossfire.