UMERKOT: A constable was killed in a shootout between a gang of six suspects and a police team chasing them near Jumoon Mangrio village near Umerkot late on Saturday night. In the ensuing operation, three suspects were arrested.

The police team went after the suspects when a man approached them to complain that they snatched his motorcycle near the Pipri bus stop located in the Rana Jagir village. During the chase, the police team tried to intercept the suspects in Jammu Mangrio village but one of them opened fire killing constable Kirpal Das Meghwar, 38, on the spot, an official at the Umerkot police station said. The gang managed to escape, he added.

Soon after the incident, reinforcement from 12 police stations was called in for a search operation led by SSP Abdul Qayoom Pitafi and DSP Khalid Hussain Tagarr.

The two police officers told the media that an area comprising Makhyaro and Jumoon Mangrio villages on Umerkot-Dhoronaro Road was cordoned off and three suspects, believed to be members of the gang, were arrested.

They identified the arrested suspects as Jumoo Marri, Sohrab Marri and Shadi Khan Marri, and claimed to have seized arms and ammunition from them.

A case against six suspects was registered at the Umerkot police station.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2014