SUKKUR, Jan 15 Police arrested the most wanted notorious dacoit Imam Bux alias Immo Mirani carrying head money of Rs500,000 after an encounter in Jaffer Abad on Thursday.

DPO Sharjeel Kharal told a press conference at his office on Friday that police cordoned off the katcha area near Jaffer Abad after receiving a tip-off that Immo's gang was shifting their hideout from Bagarji Bello to Shah Bello.

The dacoits opened fire when they saw police, who returned the fire and managed to arrest the most wanted and hardened dacoit Imam Bux Mirani after a brief encounter, he said. His accomplices escaped into the dense forest. He said that police found an AK 47 rifle and bullets in his possession. He was wanted by Larkana and Sukkur police in 20 cases of heinous crimes including, kidnapping for ransom, highway robberies and others.

Police busted another gang of car snatchers on Thursday when they received information that a car snatched from Naushahro Feroze was seen in Sukha Talab area of Sukkur and some men were trying to change its engine.

A police party raided the area and arrested Mushtaq Ali Memon, Farooq Memon and Khizar Abbas alias Malangi Awan while they were changing the engine.

The DPO said that police also arrested Ghulam Asghar Khoso and Gul Fraz Shah and recovered two pistols and Rs50,000, three mobile phones and a stolen car from their possession.

Just a few days ago the gang had robbed a cement dealer Hafiz Rizwan of Rs50,000 cash and three mobile phones, he said.