SUKKUR, June 3: Six bandits were killed in an encounter with police in Shah Belo forest near Pano Aqil on Thursday night. Several bandits and policemen also received bullet injuries.

The bandits killed in the exchange of fire reportedly belonged to the gang of Misrani Jatoi. Their names could not be ascertained.

Sukkur DPO Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh, Jacobabad DPO Din Mohammad Baloch and Shikarpur DPO Khamiso Khan Memon were leading the police force in the encounter which was continuing till the filing of this report.

The DPO of Sukkur told this correspondent by telephone that the bodies of the bandits were lying in the forest and as firing in the area was continuing. He said that the policemen who were injured in the firing had been shifted to hospitals in Sukkar and Shikarpur districts.

He said that police had launched the operation after receiving information that the bandits were trying to enter the kutcha area. The DPO said that police had torched several hideouts of the bandits.

SHOT DEAD: One Zahoor Ahmed was shot dead over some old enmity by Ghulam Sarwar and Mohammad Sarki near the Jani railway crossing, the deceased's relatives said. Ms Sakina, sister of the deceased, lodged an FIR against two accused Ghulam Sarwar and Mohammad Sarki. It is said that an ASI, Meer Bux Sarki, was killed some time ago and Zahoor Ahmed was nominated in the murder case.