JACOBABAD: Six Balochistan policemen, including an inspector, were martyred and two others injured during an encounter with dacoits in Jagir area of Jacobabad district of Sindh in the line of duty to rescue a hostage, the police officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Jacobabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Sumair Noor Channa confirmed the incident and said the martyred police officials were from the Usta Muhammad police station in Balochistan’s Jaffarabad district.
SSP Channa said both the Balochistan and Sindh Police jointly challenged the dacoits and a gun battle took place in the limits of Jagir area in the remit of Moladad police. During the exchange of fire, six officials of Jaffarabad police, including an inspector were martyred and two others were injured by the firing of dacoits, he informed.
SSP Channa said that the martyred officials included Usta Muhammad Police’s sub-inspector Tayyab Umrani and constables – Nisar Ahmed, Abdul Wahab Peechoha, Usman Hanbhi, Riaz Hussain and Khadim Hussain
After the incident, a heavy police contingent was dispatched to the scene in Jacobabad. A joint operation was being conducted along with Jaffarabad police to recover Furqan Soomro, son Aslam Soomro, a rice mill owner in Usta Muhammad town who was kidnapped at gunpoint a day ago from Jaffarabad.
SSP Channa added that the dead bodies of martyrs were shifted to DHQ Hospital in Dera Allahyar.
Naseerabad division Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Munir Ahmed Sheikh said that the joint operation will continue till the hostage, Furqan Soomro, has been recovered.
The DIG informed that the operation had been expanded with the cooperation of Sindh police and more personnel were on stand-by if needed.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo expressed his grief, saying that the “police inspector and five constables embraced martyrdom while performing their duties”.
He commended the martyred for “facing the enemy with bravery”, and prayed for their families to have patience.
Bizenjo further said he hoped that the Sindh government would soon bring to justice those responsible for the incident.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar expressed his sorrow over the martyrdom of police personnel during an operation in Jagir area of Jacobabad. “We were determined to establish lasting peace in the entire province and it was the responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of the people”, he said.
The Governor said that the blood of the police martyrs would never go in vain.
He directed for providing best medical treatment to the injured policemen.
Earlier this month, a station house officer was martyred while five others, including a deputy superintendent of police, were injured after dacoits attacked a large police contingent in Sindh’s Kandhkot district to free hostages.
The Sindh and Punjab police have launched a grand joint operation against gangs of dacoits entrenched in the riverine areas of upper Sindh and southern Punjab. The Pakistan Army, Rangers and other security personnel are also aiding the police forces.
