Thatta police killed three allegedly notorious dacoits in an encounter near Chilya, about 20 kilometres from here in the early hours of Sunday.
District Police Officer (DPO), Muzaffar Shaikh, addressing an emergent press conference in his office in the morning, said following receipt of information about presence of dacoits in a hideout in the lands of a landlord in Hilaya Forest near Chilya, police parties cordoned the area.
Sensing police presence the dacoits opened fire upon police that was retaliated, killing three dacoits identified as Ali Sher Mari, Akbar Manchhari and Ghulam Hussain Sheedi. A police inspector Khalid Tagar received a scratch injury by a ricocheting bullet, he said.
One G-3 rifle with 343 live bullets, one Kalashnikov with two magazines and 180 bullets and one TT pistol were also recovered, the DPIO said.
Accused Akbar Manchhari, he said, was wanted in 13 cases registered against him in the district and carried a head money of Rs 500,000; Ghulam Hussain Sheedi was wanted in seven cases.
He said Ali Sher Mari originally belonged to Mirpurkhas district and carried a head money of Rs 1000,000. He was working in this district under the fake name of Anwar Jat.
DPO Muzaffar Shaikh said landlord Mohammad Hasan Jakharo, on whose land the dacoits had entered into an encounter, was also picked up for investigations. He said one Mehar, son of Haji Machhi who worked on the lands was also picked up for investigations.
The DPO said he would recommend cash award and promotion for police officials who took part in the successful operation.
They included TPO Gharo Ghulam Sarwar Wistaro, Inspector Khalid Tagan, SI Faisal Shafi, ASI Hussain Jakharo, Abdul Majeed Panhwar and constables Jateem Gopang, Altaf Khoso, Jam Khan Khaskheli, Ali Bux Shar, Shamsuddin Arain, Gul Ahmed Leghari and Soofi Khan Chhuto.
He said further investigation were underway.