LARKANA, Jan 22: Four people were freed after an encounter with a group of bandits late on Saturday night on Badah-Bothro road, according to SSP of Qambar-Shahdadkot, Capt (retd) Ghulam Azfar Mahesar.

The freed people, Mohammed Rafique Soomro, Mohammed Sadiq Sanbhal, Abid Sanbhal and Ali Asghar Khoso were kidnapped on December 26 when they were going to Nasirabad from Larkana.

According to the police official, barricades were erected on the road near Bothro village on the basis of information that bandits were present in the area.

Police came under fire when they challenged a group of suspects and asked them to stop. During the exchange of fire, the bandits escaped leaving behind the kidnapped people.

The four had been in the custody of notorious bandit Wichoon Chandio.

In another encounter, police arrested Muneer Kandhro alias Munoo carrying a head money of Rs500,000, the SSP said. He was wanted in several cases of kidnapping for ransom, highway robberies and encounters with police.

He was an active member of the group of Gulbahar Mughairi and Usman Wako. One Kalashnikov, one magazine and 50 bullets were recovered from his possession.