GHOTKI; In a major breakthrough against organized crime, Sindh Police on Friday killed 12 “wanted criminals,” including several with government-announced bounties, during an ongoing operation against dacoit gangs in the Ghotki district.
According to an official statement, the operation was led by Sukkur Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Faisal Abdullah Chachar, under the supervision of Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anwar Khetran, Sukkur SSP Azhar Mughal, and Obaro DSP Abdul Qadir Soomro. The teams launched a coordinated strike in the riverine belt of Ghotki, an area long plagued by heavily armed dacoit groups.
DIG Chachar confirmed that “twelve highly dangerous outlaws were killed in the encounter,” adding that several had bounties placed on their heads by the Sindh government, including a Rs5 million reward for the notorious bandit Shah Nawaz alias Shahu. “Police recovered the bodies of seven criminals, while five were taken away by their accomplices in the darkness,” he said.
The slain outlaws were identified as members of the Shar gang, known for kidnappings, extortion, and armed robberies across northern Sindh. “Around ten dacoits were injured, but their associates managed to escape with them,” DIG Chachar noted, adding that the operation remains in progress and police forces are tightening control over the area.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar lauded the successful operation and reaffirmed that the government would not rest until all criminal networks are dismantled. “The police have delivered an outstanding performance, and their bravery has restored confidence among citizens,” he stated.
He praised the Sukkur and Ghotki police for their coordinated efforts, saying their courage had “boosted morale across the force.”
The operation comes just weeks after the Sindh Home Department announced that 72 riverine dacoits had surrendered under the provincial government’s ‘Sindh Surrender Policy.’ The surrender included more than 200 weapons, such as G3 rifles, submachine guns, RPG-7s, and even a 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun—reflecting the scale of firepower possessed by the gangs operating in Sindh’s riverine areas.
