OKARA, May 12: A dacoit carrying Rs0.5 million head-money was shot dead on Thursday in an encounter with police on Renala-Chuchuk Road near Chak 9/1-R. Iftikhar alias Khawar of Bongi Bhattian along with his accomplices was looting occupants of cars and trucks. On a tip-off, a police party rushed to the spot and encircled the area. Seeing police, the outlaws opened fire on them which was returned. As a result, one of the dacoits, Iftikhar alias Khawar, died instantly while his accomplices Mazhar alias Mazhar and three others beat a retreat.

DPO Syed Zafar Abbas Bokhari said the deceased dacoit was a member of the Kharoo dacoits gang and was wanted in dozens of cases of dacoity, kidnap for ransom and highway robbery.

CASES: A-Division police on Thursday registered cases against 11 MMA leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, for delivering speeches against the government at Venus Cinema Chowk on Wednesday.