SUKKUR: Heavily armed outlaws, said to be drug peddlers, attacked a police party killing one of its members in Feroz Haji Rajpar village, located within the limits of the Ranipur police station of Khairpur district on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Khairpur police, a team of officers and personnel from the Ranipur police station had gone to the village to arrest outlaws involved in drug peddling in the area.

It said that when the police team tried to conduct a raid on a suspected den, it came under heavy firing. The police team gave a matching response and during the gun battle, one of the policemen, Constable Waris Narejo, suffered critical bullet wounds. He was rushed to the Raniur rural health centre (RHC) for emergency treatment and then referred to the Gambat Institute of Medical Science (GIMS) due to his precarious condition, the statement said, adding that he embraced martyrdom during treatment.

The body was handed over to the heirs after a postmortem examination at GIMS.

Vast area near Khairpur’s Ranipur town cordoned off to trace out, arrest assailants; home minister and IGP seek reports from officials

In the meantime, a strong contingent of personnel drawn from various police stations of the district proceeded to Feroz Haji Rajpar village and conducted raids on several suspected dens and hideouts of outlaws. An unspecified number of suspects were picked up for interrogation.

The police contingent, led by the Ranipur SHO, was conducting an extensive search operation till late in the evening to arrest the gang responsible for the attack on the police team.

The village and its adjoining areas were cordoned off to prevent the suspects from slipping away, the police said.

Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has taken notice of the attack on police team and martyrdom of Constable Waris Narejo in Ranipur, a statement issued by his department said.

The minister expressed his deep sorrow over the constable’s death and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

He also sought a detailed report about the whole episode from the Khairpur SSP, and directed him that the operation against the suspects must be brought to its logical conclusion.

Mr Lanjar expressed solidarity with the constable’s family and pledged all possible assistance and facilities to them.

“The sacrifices rendered by the Sindh Police against criminal elements will not go in vain,” he said while paying tribute to Waris Narejo’s sacrifice in the line of duty. “The entire nation takes pride in the bravery of the Sindh Police,” he said, and remarked: “The police personnel who sacrifice their lives for public safety are our heroes”.

Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho also took a strong notice of the attack and martyrdom of the constable. He directed the Sukkur DIG to submit complete details of the incident to him.

The IGP paid tribute to Waris Narejo’s bravery and dedication to duty, and expressing his heartfelt condolences to his family.

He ordered that all available resources should be utilised for the immediate arrest those involved in the attack.

Police claim killing dacoit

The Shikarpur police have claimed to have gunned down a dacoit in an encounter near the Jail Chowrangi area of the city on Friday evening.

Shikarpur SSP Mohammad Kaleem said that the New Faujdari police spotted four suspects riding two motorcycles and signaled them to stop. However, he said, the suspects opened fire, which was returned.

During the encounter, one of the suspects was killed but his three companions managed to escape, he added.

Identifying the killed suspect as Qadro Kamalani Jatoi, the SSP claimed that a pistol along with a motorcycle was seized from him. His criminal record is being checked at different police stations, he said.

The body of the killed suspect was taken to the Shikarpur Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination.

The SSP said that the area around the encounter spot had been cordoned off to trace out and arrest the escaped associates of the killed suspect.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026