MULTAN, Feb 5: Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer Sarmad Saeed Khan on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of immediate offensive against outlaws at kutcha area sanctuary in Bangla Iccha, Rajanpur district.

Talking to Dawn, he said: “We are looking into the weaknesses of police’s raid on Tuesday morning, which he claimed caused more damage to the force. All the force from the area had been called back, he added.

A heavy police contingent reached Chak Danwani in Bangla Iccha police station precincts on Tuesday morning to bust Sikhani gang.

It was learnt that the outlaws were informed beforehand of the police raid, and they fled. The raiders first levelled the outlaws’ abandoned houses, but soon lost ground, providing an opportunity to the outlaws to marshal their resources. The outlaws turned the tables on the police, which was busy pulling out its armour personnel carrier from the bog. They also took away the carrier’s machinegun.

The attack left a policeman died and seven others injured. One of the injured, Riaz, is battling for life at Sheikh Zayed Hospital.

Earlier reports on Tuesday said one of the outlaws was killed in the shootout. However, the DPO was not sure about it.

Local sources told this correspondent that a man named Ghasu Sikhani was grievously injured. Two women and a child of Chak Danwani were also among the injured, the sources added.