SUKKUR, Aug 3: More than 400 people were arrested in a crackdown on outlaws in the Baqapur area of Larkana district, Dawn learnt from authoritative sources on Tuesday.

A Rangers personnel said that the arrested persons had been brought to Sukkur at the Shahbaz Rangers headquarters and Rangers and police officials were interrogating them.

He said that hundreds of weapons of various types were seized during the operation. Earlier on Tuesday, a press statement issued by the Shahbaz Rangers said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had taken serious notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in Sindh.

The statement said that Rangers and police had worked out a plan to eliminate the 'No-Go' areas in the province. It said in the first phase of the campaign, 11 criminals were arrested in a raid on the Lakhi-Larkana road in Shikarpur district.

A joint team of Rangers and police also raided the Baqapur area in Larkana and made 10 arrests. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was found in possession of the arrested persons. The raid was conducted after a clash between two groups of the Abro tribe.