DSP, two SHOs among five cops dead in robbers' attack in Ghotki.

SUKKUR / HYDERABAD -- A deputy superintendent of police, two station house officers (SHOs), and two constables were killed while three others received injuries as a result of an attack by at least 150 dacoits on a police camp in the riverine area of Ghotki district in the wee hours of Sunday.

The riverine area where the incident took place was known as Raunti, where the police had set up a camp after entering the area to recover three hostages who were kidnapped on Oct 30.

A case was lodged for their recovery at the Ubauro police station on the complaint of Mehar Khan. The hostages included Mohammad Sadiq, son of Rahim Bux Dhandu, 20; Mehrab, son of Mehar Dhandu, 12; and eight-year-old Shahbaz Ali, son of Mehar Dhandu.

Upon investigation, the police learned that Rahib Shar, a dacoit, had abducted the three. Subsequently, a team led by DSP Abdul Malik Bhutto entered the area to recover hostages within the remits of the Wasti Jeewan Shah police station and established a police camp at the residence of dacoit Lalo Shar, a close relative of Rahib Shar.

Police camp was set up to recover kidnap victims; SSP says police tracing footprints of suspects

After midnight, at least 150 dacoits attacked the camp with modern weapons and fired at least 25 rockets at the policemen, said Ghotki SSP Tanvir Tunio. In the ensuing shootout, DSP Bhutto, Inspector Abdul Malik Kamangar, Sub-InspAeActor Din Mohammad LegAhari, and constables Jatoi Khan Pitafi and Mohammad Saleem Chachar were killed. Injured policemen are Inspector Ghulam Ali Brohi, constables Aftab Ahmed Bhutto, and Mumtaz Ali Soomro.

Information gathered by Dawn revealed that dacoits celebrated the killings inside the riverine area after taking away the bodies of the policemen. The bodies were returned to the police after a few hours as a result of mediation by some influential persons. The bodies were sent to their native towns after autopsy and the injured were shifted to a hospital in Sukkur.

Dawn learned that the dacoits attacked the police team to avenge the...