KHAIRPUR, Oct 10: A notorious bandit, Ameer Shah, and his five accomplices were arrested in Tando Masti Khan here on Friday, DPO Khairpur Pir Mohammad Shah said.

The gang is alleged to have been involved in various criminal activities including kidnapping for ransom, robberies and murders.

The DPO told the newsmen that the police had received an information that the gang was staying somewhere in Morio Shaikh village. Acting on the tip-off, he said, a heavy contingent of police called from different police stations was despatched to the area in question.

He said that after an exchange of fire the law-enforcers managed to arrest Ameer Shah and his five accomplices who had been identified as Rab Nawaz Mari, Nawaz Shaikh, Mohram Shaikh, Peeral, and Mashooq Shaikh.

The police also claimed to have recovered two Kalashnikov rifles from the possession of the bandits.

The DPO said that apart from other criminal activities Ameer Shah, a resident of Ahmedpur, had also held hostage a prisoners’ van in August 2005 in which ten criminals were escorted back to the Sukkur Central Jail from court in Khairpur.

The official said that Shah had thrown red chilly powder in the eyes of the police personnel and fled with the under-trial prisoners including Hadi Bux alias Hadoo Junejo, Nooro Zangejo, Mushtaq Mahar, Ghazi Jagirani, Bangul Mirbahar, Ramzan Mirani, Niaz Maitlo, Khalid Khoso and two others.

Ameer Shah and his accomplices have been sent to Khairpur and locked up at the A-section police station.

Our Shikarpur correspondent adds: Seven bandits were arrested after a police encounter in Bhooral Khan Jeho village in the Humayoon area on Friday.