12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

SUKKUR, April 11: Three alleged bandits were killed and scores of suspects arrested on Sunday on the second consecutive day of an operation against outlaws in the forests of Shah Belo and Alif Kutcho.

DPO Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh told this correspondent on telephone that those killed had not yet been identified and their bodies were lying in the forest. He said that resistance from outlaws continued and they attacked police with rockets and automatic weapons but no policeman was killed or injured.

Mr Shaikh said that the police retaliated with strong force, and as a result three bandits were killed and many arrested in the forest. The operation started on the information of hostages who had recently been released by bandits. They gave details to the police and said that some 12 hostages were still in the clutches of dacoits.

The DPO said that the operation would continue till its logical end and the release of all hostages. He said that bandits tried to flee towards the Kutcha area of Shikarpur and Kandhkot. He said a heavy contingent of police was deployed at exist points of the forest area.