DERA GHAZI KHAN: Police claim to have killed an alleged dacoit and injured three others during an operation against criminals in the Katcha (riverine) area where wheat harvesting season is about to begin.

Rajanpur DPO Dost Muhammad said the alleged dacoits belonging to Lound and Dulani gang escaped while the police set fire to their hideouts. He said as police chased them, the dacoits opened fire on them. In the crossfire, one of the dacoits, later identified as Haider Kajala was killed and his three accomplices, including Wahab Lound, were injured.

The DPO said an elite force personnel, Allah Divaya, was injured in the exchange of fire between the police and the dacoits.

The injured policeman was shifted to hospital for medical treatment, where his condition is said to be out of danger, a police spokesman said.

The DPO said the operation against the dacoits had been relaunched in the Katcha area of Khairpur Bambili in Rujhan Mazari, on the orders of Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar.

During the operation, he said, a large number of police personnel entered the areas where dacoits had hideouts.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2024