SUKKUR, April 14: The police operation in the forest area of Alif Kutcho and Shah Belo was intensified on Wednesday after the induction of helicopters. Two encounters took place between the bandits and the police on the fifth consecutive day of the operation.

The first encounter took place at the Miral Patan where dacoits tried to flee but failed and were forced to retreat while taking their three injured accomplices with them.

Another encounter took place in the Alif Kutcho where two bandits were reportedly injured in the police firing but they managed to take away their accomplices with them.

The police cordoned the entire area so that no dacoit could escape. Meanwhile, RPO Sukkur Rahoo Khan Brohi with the DPOs of Khairpur, Sukkur and Shikarpur inspected the forest area aerially and saw the movements of bandits in the dense forest.

Talking to the newsmen DPO Sukkur Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh said the police had cordoned the entire area of Alif Kutcho and 700 fresh police officials had joined the operation. He said the first priority was to destroy all the hideouts of the dacoits.