A gun battle between law enforcement personnel and bandits in the Manchhar Shah Muqaam area of Shikarpur on Tuesday morning resulted in the deaths of nine dacoits and left two high-ranking police officials with serious bullet injuries, police said.
According to Shikarpur police report, the operation was launched by police after receiving intelligence via technical support regarding the presence of bandits in the jurisdiction of Stuart Ganj Police Station. The confrontation escalated when the dacoits opened indiscriminate fire on the police team, prompting a forceful retaliatory action, the report said.
During the exchange of fire, lady DSP Paras Bakhrani and her husband, DSP Zahoor Ahmed Soomro, sustained critical gunshot wounds. They were immediately referred to a Sukkur hospital due to their precarious condition, with subsequent arrangements being made for their transfer to Karachi for further medical treatment.
SSP Shikarpur Shahzeb Ahmed Chachar confirmed that the nine deceased bandits belonged to the active Shaikh Gang, which he stated was involved in heinous offences. The killed suspects were identified as Imdad Sheikh, Shehzado Sheikh, Shahmoor Sheikh, Awais Sheikh, Yaseen Sheikh, Asif Sheikh, Kuraro Sheikh, and Sajid Sheikh, among others.
In addition to the two DSPs, four other police personnel, including Constable Imdad Brohi, also sustained injuries during the firefight.
Following the encounter, the bodies of the deceased were brought to the Shikarpur-Jacobabad Chowrangi, where a large crowd of citizens gathered to view them.
A heavy contingent of police, utilizing armored vehicles and drone surveillance, has been deployed to the area. The Manchhar Shah vicinity and adjoining localities have been evacuated as a large-scale search operation is underway to locate any remaining suspects.
Officials affirmed that the operation will continue until the area is fully cleared and safety is restored. Deputy Inspector General of Police Sukkur, Faisal Abdullah Chachar, along with other regional notables including Commissioner Sukkur Abid Saleem Qureshi and local leaders, visited the hospital to inquire about the well-being of the injured officers. They reviewed the medical facilities being provided, expressed solidarity with the families, and commended the courage of the police personnel in combating criminal elements.