HYDERABAD, June 2: Police busted an eight-member gang of highway robbers and recovered weapons from their possession following two brief encounters near Bhit Shah on Tuesday. Three accomplices of the highwaymen managed to escape.

Taluka Police Officer, Matiari, Younus Chandio, confirmed that eight alleged robbers - Abdul Hakeem Brohi, Hidayatullah Talpur, Mazhar Raho, Mureed Shahani, Zameer Chohan, Habibullah Machhi, Sheer Mohammad Thaheem and Juryo Thaheem - were arrested.

They were found in possession of one 222 rifle, five guns, cartridges and bullets, he said and added that they had been booked in two separate cases of police counters and for possessing illicit weapons.

The Taluka Police Office said that the first encounter took place on Darya Khan Machhi link road near the National Highway and the other near Bhit Shah. Those who escaped were Sattar Nizamani, Sajid Rajput (both residents of Bhit Shah) and Shahu Machi, resident of Moro. Police claimed that it was a notorious gang of dacoits involved in highway robberies.