DADU: Police claimed to have killed a bandit, who carried Rs1 million head money, in an encounter near Mehar town on Wednesday.

Dadu SSP Shabir Ahmed Sethar told journalists that acting on a tip-off Mehar police surrounded a hideout near bypass to arrest the bandit Jafar Kerio and his gang but they tried to fire away through the cordon.

An encounter ensued in which Jafar was killed and two of his accomplices managed to escape. Police recovered a 7mm rifle and 50 bullets from his possession, he said.

He said that Sindh government had announced Rs1 million as head money for the arrest or murder of the bandit. Jafar was wanted in 40 cases in several districts of the province.

Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested a bandit after exchange of fire in Kachho area near Sita road late on Wednesday evening.

SSP Shabbir Ahmed Sethar said that police engaged in an exchange of fire with a gang of bandits in which one Azam Machhi alias Azoo was arrested.

Police found a rifle and 100 bullets in his possession.

Published in Dawn September 1st, 2016