DADU, June 7: DPO Dadu Manzoor Hussain Khatiyan claimed on Saturday that the five men killed and five of their accomplices arrested after an encounter a day ago in Qasim Choliyani village of Qambar-Shahdadkot district were bandits.

He told a press conference that no innocent person was killed in the encounter while two Kalashnikovs, two rifles, a gun and a large number of bullets were found in the dacoits’ possession.

He said that dead and arrested bandits were wanted to police in heinous crimes involving kidnappings, murder and robberies. Cases against them were lodged at the police stations of Larkana, Dadu and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts.

He said that a heavy contingent of police raided the hideout after TPO Mehar Jan Mohammad Birhamani received a tip-off that the gangs of notorious dacoits Sultan Chandio and Gul Bahar Mugheri were hiding in the village.

He said that police raid led to an encounter, which continued for eight hours, resulting in killing of Ghaffar, Akbar, Dadan, Imam Ali and Nadi and arrest of Saifal, Mumtaz, Sher Khan and Sharif and another unidentified man.

The DPO denied reports that an innocent girl was killed in the crossfire. He said that a case against Dadu police officials was registered by chief of Chandio tribe.

He said that police would face trial with complete record of criminals. Any inquiry would be in favour of police as it was a genuine encounter.