DADU, Nov 2: Two bandits have been arrested on Friday after a police encounter at Duabo police post near Dadu town.

This was stated by the DPO, Operations, Ali Akbar Bhangwar, while briefing newsmen here.

Police, he said, had recovered weapons from their possession.

The police officer said that he had constituted two police teams — led by the TPO, Dadu, Gul Mohammad Shar and the SHO, Dadu town, Ghulam Sarwar Zardari — after he heard about the presence of Bakhshal alias Maqoo Chandio near Dubao link road.

Both the police teams cordoned off the area and called upon the bandits to surrender themselves, he said.

The bandits resorted to firing, which was retaliated by the police, he added.

The encounter, which lasted for two hours, resulted in the arrest of two bandits, including the gang leader Bakhshal alias Maqoo and Sikandar Ali. Other members of the gang escaped.

One kalashnikov and some bullets were recovered from their possession.

The DPO operation said that the gang was involved in highway robberies, kidnapping, murders and other crimes and over 25 cases were registered against them at various police stations of the district.

He further informed that the police had also conducted raids at various places in the Dadu district and had arrested 30 absconders, seven proclaimed offenders besides recovering five guns, three pistols, 20 bullets and 50 cartridges from their possession.