SUKKUR, March 22: Three more bandits were killed in an encounter during the ongoing operation in the kutcha area of Gemro in Ghotki district on Tuesday, raising the death toll of criminals to 15.

At least 12 bandits had lost their lives on Monday in a joint operation conducted by Ghotki and Kashmore police in the kutcha areas of Gehlpur, Raunti and Andal Shar.

The operation had been initiated on the instruction of provincial home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.

The DPO of Ghotki, Pir Mohammad Shah, at a press conference on Tuesday, identified the killed bandits in today's operation as Ibrahim Shaikh alias doctor, carrying head money of Rs1 million, Nasrullah Shaikh and Nasir Shaikh, carrying head money of Rs500,000 each.

He said that bodies of 12 dacoits were in police custody and three of them were lying in kutcha area of Raunti.

Bodies of nine dacoits were lying in the morgue of Taluka Hospital Ubauro while three had been kept in the Civil Hospital of Ghotki.

The Ghotki police chief said that bandits' bodies would not be handed over to their relatives until and unless people kidnapped by them were released. He warned that those who come forward and claim the bodies would also be arrested. He said that despite passage of 24 hours no body had claimed the bodies.

He warned the outlaws not to challenge the writ of government and voluntarily surrender.

A war-like situation had been prevailing in the kutcha areas of Ghotki district, where police were on a high alert position, the DPO said.