SUKKUR, March 28: The Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab police have finalized the strategy for launching an intensive anti- bandit operation, Sindh IGP Syed Kamal Shah said on Friday.

He, however, declined to reveal the launching date of the operation.

Speaking at a press conference at the Sukkur airport, the IGP said that an operation plan has been provided to relevant police officials.

Bandits, he said, were equipped with latest weaponry, including rocket launchers, therefore, it had been decided to allow the police and rangers to use rocket launchers to repulse the bandits.

Referring to the delay in launching the operation, the IGP, Sindh, said it had been delayed because of the Sept 11 incident, which had caused a lot of police personnel to be engaged in extreme security measures.

The Balochistan government, Mr Shah said, would be requested to seal its border with Sindh during the operation.

He dispelled the impression that the operation would target any particular tribe.

He said that the areas —including the Shahi Wah, Bugti Colony and RD 109 — where the outlaws usually took refuge, would be cleansed.

Earlier, Mr Shah presided over a meeting of the police officials, including Sibi DIG Abdul Aziz Bullo and Jafarabad DPO Rahim Khan Jamote. Speaking on the occasion, the police officials from Balochistan called for a discussion between the governor and chief minister of Balochistan and their counterparts in the Sindh government, before launching of the operation.