• Dacoits fired on two vehicles returning from patrol in Machka, near Punjab-Sindh border
• Some policemen feared missing; death toll may rise
• Punjab CM vows retribution; Sindh police placed on high alert, ordered to extend full cooperation

RAHIM YAR KHAN/LAHORE: At least 11 policemen were martyred and nine injured after two police vehicles came under rocket attack from dacoits in the Machka area, near the Punjab-Sindh border, a Punjab police spokesperson said on Thursday night.

Law enforcement sources said that two police vehicles were on their way back from a police camp in the Katcha (riverine) area, where recent rains had rendered the road extremely muddy, causing one of the vehicles to get stuck or break down.

This is when the police party are said to have come under attack from dacoits, who fired rockets at the vehicles and then opened fire, leading to several casualties. Late night reports suggested that the death toll might rise further.

A number of policemen are also said to be missing, but there was no official confirmation of this until going to press. It was also not clear how many personnel were part of the patrol when it came under attack.

Due to the remoteness of the area where the attack took place, law enforcers and rescuers both faced difficulties in getting reinforcements to the area, and initial information was sketchy.

However, Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital Director Emergency Dr Muhammad Zubair said they had been informed about 16 casualties.

Speaking to Dawn before the dead and injured were brought to the hospital, Dr Zubair said they had made complete arrangements for the immediate treatment of the injured, while emergency staff had been placed on high alert.

He said the injured policemen and the bodies of martyred personnel were being transported from Machka and would arrive at the hospital late at night, as it is a long way from the area where the attack took place.

Sources said gangs of dacoits had warned district police of retaliatory attacks after the killing of their accomplices at the hands of law enforcers, in recent weeks.

Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn that both Punjab and Sindh police had launched a historic operation in the riverine area, with 320 police personnel from Punjab on the ground, in addition to the force from Sindh police.

Local sources claimed that most of the policemen killed and injured in the attack were Elite Force personnel from Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah who had been posted to fight outlaws in the Katcha area.

Earlier, six policemen had been martyred in two attacks in July and August.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the Punjab police chief and other senior officials to head to Rahim Yar Khan to deal with the situation.

She expressed profound grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 11 police personnel and said it would not go unavenged. “My team under the supervision of Home Secretary, IG and CTD has been dispatched with clear directions to sort them out decisively,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the Sindh inspector general to establish contact with Punjab Police, asking him to extend to them any assistance required. He also offered all possible assistance to help with the treatment of the injured personnel.

Sindh Police have been placed on high alert until further orders and the provincial police chief, as well as the DIG Sukkur and SSP Ghotki have been asked to coordinate with their counterparts in Punjab.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the attack and ordered immediate and effective action against the attackers.

Imtiaz Ali in Karachi also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2024