A police operation against dacoits in the Ghilpur Kacha area of Kashmore district on Friday took a dramatic turn, with the bandits seizing 20 officials hostage, including the Station House Officer of Ghilpur, and capturing armoured vehicles and police mobiles.
The operation began with police forces engaging the dacoits, who responded with a hail of rocket launcher fire, effectively surrounding the police party. The bandits then overpowered the officers, taking them hostage and seizing their vehicles, including two police mobiles and armoured personnel carriers.
Negotiations are currently underway between the police and the dacoits for the release of the hostages.
This hostage crisis comes amidst rising concerns about the growing activity of dacoits in Sindh’s riverine areas, particularly along the Sindh-Punjab border. These bandits, operating from fortified hideouts in the dense riverine forests, are responsible for numerous incidents of kidnapping for ransom, robberies, and violence.
The recent operation in Ghilpur was launched as part of a larger crackdown on dacoits in the region. However, the unexpected turn of events underscores the complex challenges faced by security forces in tackling this issue.
