Three criminals killed who were allegedly involved in dacoity, kidnapping for ransom; six women, three children taken into police custody
At least five policemen, including two Station House Officers (SHOs) and three suspected criminals, were killed in an exchange of fire in Mirpurkhas on Saturday morning.
Nine policemen, including Mirpurkhas SSP were also wounded in the clash that occurred during a police crackdown in the town of Ali Talpur, situated in the Mehmoodabad area of Mirpurkhas.
Per details, it was primarily Hyderabad police’s information regarding the presence of alleged criminals Narejos – who actually belong to Khairpur district in upper Sindh – in Mirpurkhas district and police reached the district for operation.
Hyderabad Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Sanaullah Abbasi said a raiding party comprising policemen and commandos raided a house in AliTalpurTown. The occupants of the house opened straight fire on the police party, DIG Abbasi added.
The police called for reinforcement upon realising that it would prove to be an uphill task.
Police force from Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Hyderabad participated in the encounter.
In order to enter the house, raiding police team had to use tear gas and heavy machinery to demolish outer premises where dacoits were staying with their families. The operation ended at 8 am when the last dacoit was killed.
Five police officials, including SHO Market Wahid Bux Laghari, SHO Latifabad Hassan Abidi, police constables Abdul Jabbar Shaikh, Anwar Jameel and Dilbar were killed in the shootout.
Nine injured policemen are SSP Mirpurkhas Usman Siddiqui, who received pellet injuries, Pinyari SHO Mumtaz Brohi, Waris Bhutto, personnel staff officer (PSO) of SSP Irfan Baloch, Sajjad, Mehboob, Shahzad, Mohibullah, Ghulam Hussain, Faisal and Ghulam Hussain. Shahzad’s condition is stated to be critical.
Among dead dacoits are Shafiq alias Chhotho Narejo, Qurban Narejo, his brother Zulfiqar Narejo and Jan Mohammad.
According to SSP Mirpurkhas Usman Ghani Siddiqui, Shafiq carried head money of Rs2.5 million.
Dr Abbasi said that all three suspects killed were wanted and had a bounty on their heads for involvement in several of cases of dacoity and kidnapping for ransom.
However, no hostage was with them at the time of the encounter. Shafiq was involved in kidnapping of Zulfiqar Durrani, son of High Court Bar Association (HCBA) Nisar Durrani last year in September. The kidnapped boy was released in first week of November.
Six women and three children were taken into custody by police after the operation.
NO LACK OF COORDINATION:
Talking to media, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Haider Jamali dismissed reports that there was lack of coordination between Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad police in the encounter.
“No, there is no lack of coordination rather it was a joint action by two police in which law enforcers from different districts participated. Policemen in fact laid down their lives only to avoid casualties of women and children who were used as human shield by dacoits,” said Jamali while visiting the injured Pinyari SHO at Liaquat University Hospital (LUH).
He said that the police could have blown premises easily up but to save the lives of women and children this option was not preferred.
IGP Sindh paid rich tributes to slain policemen for sacrificing their lives only to save lives of women and children.
He said that he is recommending Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal (QPM) for slain policemen, adding that the slain policemen’s family members/children would be appointed in higher grades in addition to usual compensation to be given by the government.
“Sindh government has shown great concern over the encounter and is ready to do everything possible for deceased policemen,” he said.
Hyderabad Police DIG Dr Abbasi, Hyderabad SSP Irfan Baloch and other police officers accompanied him on the occasion.
The IGP participated in funeral prayers of three policemen and visited homes of Wahid Bux Leghari, Syed Hassan Ali Abdi, both sub-inspectors who were killed in the encounter.
Leghari hails from Hala and Abdi is resident of Latifabad. Abdi had his eye damaged in a protest sometime back during a protest as well in Hyderabad.
Jamali told journalists that police are recruiting force to overcome shortage in the police.
He said that currently 9,000 people would be recruited in police followed by the appointment of another 25,000 in future. He disclosed that police are buying weaponry and modern equipments to meet challenges of terrorism.
“We are getting bomb proof vehicles and more armoured personnel carriers,” IGP said, adding that the Sindh government is always forthcoming in assisting provincial police force.