Security forces in Sindh’s Ghotki district have killed eight suspected dacoits and freed over two dozen hostages during a multi-day joint operation in the riverine katcha area, officials said. The raids, conducted by the police and Rangers, are now in their sixth day and span the Katcha Karachi, Katcha Rajwani and Katcha Razi regions, where the suspects had sought refuge.
The operation follows an attack on a passenger bus on December 16 in the Murid Shakh area of Kashmore district, during which armed assailants abducted 19 passengers en route from Sadiqabad to Quetta. More than two dozen abductees have since been safely recovered.
Police identified one of the slain suspects as Chhalu Bukrani, a gang leader with a Rs5 million bounty, and said he was closely linked to another wanted criminal, Tanveer Andhar. Law enforcement agencies recovered multiple weapons, including Kalashnikov and G-3 rifles, and ammunition from several hideouts.
Authorities destroyed more than a dozen bunker-like hideouts and deployed armored vehicles, heavy police contingents from the Sukkur and Larkana divisions, and surveillance drones. The DIG Sukkur, Faisal Abdullah Chachar, stated that checkpoints have been established on routes in and out of the area and the operation will continue until all suspects are arrested and the region cleared of explosives.