March 28, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

SUKKUR, March 27: Dacoits looted five passenger coaches and a car after taking them hostage near Lakhi Ghulam Shah, in district Shikarpur on Thursday between 9.30am to 1.00pm.

Panic gripped the area after the consecutive lootings.

A group of thirty-odd armed highwaymen closed the gate of railway crossing no.2 on Sukkur-Larkana road in Lakhi Ghulam Shah police station jurisdiction. They intercepted three passenger wagons and a car and after overpowering and taking passengers hostage they drove them towards katcha area of Goth Rajib Turt where they looted their cash, gold ornaments, wristwatches, cellphones and other valuables.

On receiving information about the incident, the area police embarked upon to chase the dacoits.

However, the dacoits escaped after firing in the air and left behind two wagons and the car while they drove away in the third wagon.

Later, after a hot pursuit and exchange of gunfire between police and dacoits, three men, Sohrab Shar, Bahawal Shar, and Ali Dost Turt Jatoi were captured with their automatic weapons.

In retaliation of this police action, the same dacoits’ group, which had escaped earlier, intercepted another passenger wagon at the same place at about 11.40am.

The wagon was going to Sukkur from Shahdadkot. The dacoits drove it to the katcha area with the passengers where they beat them and looted their cash and other valuables.

After an hour at the same place near Tando Baharo, the dacoits looted a marriage party going in a coach. The dacoits beat them also when some in the marriage party tried to offer some resistance.

No case was registered till filing this report.