By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Police in Ghotki have killed two of the region’s most-wanted criminals during a joint operation with the assistance of the Federal/Civil Intelligence Agency and Punjab Police, officials said. The operation, conducted in the Katcha area of Ravanti in Obaro, Ghotki, also led to the recovery of a kidnap victim and a large cache of weapons.
According to SSP Ghotki Muhammad Anwar Khaitran, one of the deceased, Challo Bakhrani, was a notorious dacoit carrying a Rs5 million bounty and involved in killings of police officers, dacoities, looting, police encounters, and kidnappings for ransom. His associate, also a wanted criminal, was killed during the operation.
Police said the kidnap victim recovered belonged to Saddiqabad. Drones were reportedly used to track and target the dacoits, while houses suspected of harboring criminals were raided. Three other robbers were killed and three injured during these raids.
The operation was launched following the kidnapping of 14 passengers from a bus, who had been taken to slum areas by the bandits. SSP Khaitran said the cleared areas of Katcha have now been handed over to Rajanpur Police, while the bomb disposal squad has been deployed to recover weapons and explosives from destroyed hideouts.
Authorities warned of potential explosions from rockets planted by the criminals and noted that a significant number of weapons were recovered—more than typically found even in conflict-prone regions such as Wana or Waziristan. The police operation underscores ongoing efforts to eliminate organized criminal networks and restore security in the Katcha areas of Ghotki.
