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SUKKUR, Jan 5: At least 50 rice mills of Kandhkot, Karampur, Ghauspur, Tangwani, and other parts of Jacobabad district observed complete strike on Sunday in protest against an armed attack by dacoits on the Milki Krishan Rice Mill, Kandhkot, on Saturday night.
The Anaj Market of Kandhkot too remained closed throughout the day in protest.
The rice mill owners told the police and the district administration that they would not open their mills until both assured them that complete safety would be provided to their lives and properties.
It may be recalled that 10 armed dacoits had raided the Milki Krishan Rice Mill and opened fire with rocket launchers as a result of which it had been damaged.
The dacoits had warned the mill owners through letters to pay them money on a monthly basis otherwise their lives would not be secure.
The Mill Owners Association has decided to close all rice mills if the administration concerned failed to assure them within three days that they would be provided complete protection.
BUFFALOES STOLEN: Armed Jatoi tribesmen attacked the Rehmat Maher village, opened indiscriminate fire and stole 30 buffaloes on Sunday.
OPERATION: At least 500 policemen including commandos from all the five districts of Sukkur Region have been alerted by the AIG Police, Sukkur Range, Nayyar Hussain, that a massive operation against dacoits would be carried out next week in the border areas of Sindh and Balochistan, especially in Jacobabad and Shikarpur.
The decision to launch the anti-dacoits operation was taken at a meeting of police officials in Sukkur on Saturday on the special directives of Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, this correspondent learnt from reliable sources on Sunday.
In the meantime, the DPOs and TPOs concerned have been asked to make all the necessary arrangements regarding the drive.
Armoured vehicles and other weapons will be provided from all the districts of Sukkur region.
At least a 100 checkposts have been established in the border areas to check the movement of dacoits.
INJURED: Eight vehicles collided on the National Highway on Sunday due to misty weather , injuring three people.
