SUKKUR: Kandhkot police claimed to have gunned down two dacoits in an encounter on Kandhkot-Thull section of the Indus Highway in Tangwani Larro late on Tuesday night.

A police official was also killed and another suffered injuries in the shootout, said police.

A gang of armed dacoits were stopping a vehicle and planning to rob the passengers when the area police reached there spot and tried to arrest the suspects. The suspects, on seeing the police, opened indiscriminate fire, which was retaliated by police.

During the exchange of fire, a police official Dur Muhammad Bakhrani was killed and Umaid Ali Bakhrani wounded.

The police official said that SSP Kashmore-Kandhkot Irfan Ali Samo along with a strong police contingent reached the spot and cornered the dacoits.

The police said that two dacoits identified as Shahid Khoso and Abdul Sattar Khoso were gunned down, while their accomplices managed to escape. The encounter lasted for hours.

Meanwhile, the wounded policeman and the bodies of the suspects and police officer were taken to the Civil Hospital.

The police said weapons had been recovered from the suspects’ custody.

Later, the body of the martyred policeman was taken to his native village Dera Sarki where he was laid to rest with the guard of honour.

SSP Kashmore Irfan Ali Samo, Deputy Commissioner Munawar Mithiyani, Rangers and others officials attended his funeral.

Talking to the media on the occasion, SSP Kashmore said police department was proud of the martyred police officer who set an example by sacrificing his life while protecting citizens.

According to some sources, three days ago, some citizens caught Shahid Khoso and Abdul Sattar Khoso for trying to kidnap children and handed over them to the police at A-Section police station where a case was registered against them.

Hafeez Khoso, a relative of the suspects, alleged that the police had killed his relatives in a fake encounter as they were already in police custody.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023