THATTA, Dec 30: The Thatta police launched an anti-dacoit operation in the Khadi and Jurrar forests along the left bank of the Indus River on Sunday.

The main reason for the anti-dacoit operation is to flush out dacoit Ali Khoso and his gang, which is said to be hiding in one of the forests.

The SSP, Thatta, Dr. Najaf Quli Mirza, is leading a heavy police contingent comprising over 200 police personnel besides two DSPs and a number of SHOs. At least a dozen mobiles and an armoured police carrier are being used in the drive.

The dacoits are said to be operating in the area since the last two years.

The Ali Khoso gang recently shot dead a forester and injured a constable, besides killing a woman and threatening the villagers for providing them money on a regular basis. The gang also keeps on kidnapping people from time to time.