SUKKUR, April 10: Police launched an operation against bandits in Shah Belo and Alif kutcha areas in Sukkur and Shikarpur districts on Friday night.

Talking to journalists here on Saturday, Sukkur DPO Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh said that police had destroyed 20 hideouts of bandits during the last 24 hours.

He said that 11 rockets had been fired upon police parties in the Alif kutcha forest area and an APC had also came under heavy firing by the bandits.

He said that police had cordoned off the areas where groups of bandits Manzoor Narejo and Manthar Chabbar were hiding and firing on police.

The DPO said that the policeman taking part in the operation would be awarded cash prize.

Police sources said that 10 groups of bandits, including those of Najaf Jatoi, Manthar Chabbar, Kolhi Bhelo, Balkhsher Misrani, Sheroo Misrani, Nazeer Misrani, Sadho Narejo and Manzoor Narejo, were hiding in the area.

They said the bandits were holding more than a dozen persons hostage.

The operation was continuing till the filing of this report.