DADU: Three policemen were martyred and one sustained critical injuries by dacoits near Mehar town of Dadu district on Monday evening.

SSP Ameer Saud Magsi informed media personnel that a police party had rushed to the Qazi Arif area upon receiving information about a gang of dacoits looting commuters after blocking the Fareedabad-Mehar link road. As soon as the police party reached close the specified spot, the dacoits opened an indiscriminate fire on their mobile van. A fierce gun battle ensued during which three constables — Abdul Hafeez Mehesar, Irfan Ali Chandio and Imamuddin Khoso — embraced martyrdom and another of their colleagues, head constable Sikandar Ali Bhurgari, suffered serious gunshot wounds. The gang fled the area.

The bodies and wounded policeman were rushed to a major hospital in Larkana.

The SSP said that the area was cordoned off and a hunt for the fleeing dacoits was mounted.

According to the police, the fleeing dacoits barged into a house in a village and fired shots, critically wounding two brothers, Ali Murad and Nazar Brohi. They were also taken to the Larkana hospital after they were provided emergency treatment at the Mehar Taluka Hospital.

IGP Javed Alam Odho has ordered setting up of special teams for the arrest of the dacoits. He also directed the Hyderabad DIG to proceed to Dadu and supervise the investigation.

Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has directed the Hyderabad DIG and Dadu SSP to use all available resources for the dacoits’ arrest.

A spokesman for the district police said that the martyred constables were posted at the A-Section police station of Mehar.

According to reports, the gang had already looted riders of five motorcycles and passengers of a van before arrival of the police.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2026