SUKKUR: Son of martyred DSP Rao Shafiullah who was killed in an encounter with kidnappers in Garhi Tegho riverine area a day before demanded on Wednesday after the burial of his father that the government should provide modern weapons to police and purge the department of black sheep who leaked information to criminals prior to operations.

DSP Shafiullah was leading an operation against a gang of bandits for the recovery of a five-member team of Sindhi folk singer Jigar Jalal Chandio when he suffered lethal wounds and later succumbed to injuries.

Rao Ahmed Shafi, son of the martyred DSP, told reporters after the burial with complete police honours that he was proud of his father who sacrificed his life in the line of duty. They were five brothers and all were ready to lay down their lives for the country, he said.

The funeral prayers in the ground of Sukkur range police headquarters were attended by police personnel and officers of Sukkur, Shikarpur, Larkana and other towns, local leaders of different political, social, religious and trade organisations and a large number of citizens, relatives and friends of the martyred officer. Elected public representatives were conspicuous by their abs­ence. Later, a contingent of police presented salute to the martyred officer amid loud slogans by their colleagues.

DSP Shafiullah who died in the line of duty laid to rest in Sukkur

Sukkur AIG Dr Jameel Ahmed said after the funeral that operations against outlaws were part of their job and many officials had laid down their lives or suffered injuries in encounters with criminals and terrorists.

He said that police often employed private persons to get information about criminals and the “black sheep” in police leaked vital information about police activities to the criminals. It would be probed whether a policeman alerted criminals about the operation launched on Tuesday, he said.

He said the operation would not be suspended after the officer’s martyrdom.

“The operation will continue till safe recovery of hostages,” he said, adding that a grand operation against criminals would be launched after the end of flood season.

He admitted that the criminals hiding in the riverine forests were equipped with latest weapons while police had also demanded the government provide them modern weapons and APCs to fight the criminals.

He said that police department had also asked the Sindh government to construct a bridge between Ghotki and Kandhkot to help decrease crimes in the area.

Four policemen have been martyred over the past two months during encounters with outlaws in katcha areas of Garhi Tegho and Chak of Shikarpur district.

Sukkur DIG Iqbal Dara, SSP Irfan Samoo, Larkana DIG Irfan Baloch, SSP Masud Bangash, ASP of Shikarpur and Sukkur Mayor Barrister Arsalan Islam Shaikh were among those who attended the funeral.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2019