SUKKUR: The station house officer (SHO) of Karampur police station, located in Kandhkot-Kashmore district, was killed in a gun battle that also left a suspected dacoit dead and three of his accomplices wounded on Monday.

A 200-strong police force under the supervision of Kandhkot-Kashmore SSP Bashir Ahmed Brohi had launched an offensive in Adam Jagirani village within the katcha area of the district to recover four hostages, believed to be held by criminals for more than 20 days.

The police force, however, faced strong resistance from the criminals having scores of hideouts across the katcha area.

During a fierce gun battle between the two sides, a rocket hit one of the armoured personnel carriers (APCs) making advances in different directions of the katcha area.

Officials at Durrani Mahar police station said that Karampur SHO Ali Hassan Bakhrani laid down his life in the line of duty while one dacoit, Ashraf aka Liaquat Jagirani, was killed in the battle.

Another three dacoits were wounded, they said, adding that the operation was continuing and the entire area had been cordoned off.

SHO Bakhrani`s body was sent to his native town, Humayun, in Shikarpur district, where he was laid to rest with full police honours. The funeral was attended by Deputy Commissioner Munawwar Ali Mithiani, Colonel Mohammed Idris of the 52-Rangers, senior Rangers and police officials and a large number of security agencies` personnel besides family members, relatives and friends of the deceased police officer.

The body of dacoit Liaquat Jagirani has been kept at the Kandhkot Civil Hospital for legal formalities.

The four hostages held by the dacoits belong to Shikarpur district and were kidnapped on April 17 while they were passing through the area of Tegho Jagirani.