RAHIM YAR KHAN/ DERA GHAZI KHAN: A constable of Rajanpur district`s Elite Force was injured during an operation against gangs of dacoits in the border area of the district and Rahim Yar Khan on Wednesday.

Injured Constable Zahid Saleem was shifted to Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital in RY Khan, while the operation was going on till the filing of this report.

Police sources claimed a few days ago around 50 heavily armed members of the Chotu and Pat gangshad attacked and occupied the Katcha Karachi one and two and Katcha Umrani checkposts in the riverine area of Rajanpur. In retaliation, constable Mahboob Arshad was killed and five others injured.

Sources told Dawn the suspects were using rocket launchers and other heavy weaponry during the encounter.

Following the attack, police contingents from DG Khan division and RY Khan district with help from Rangers and two gunship helicopters initiated an oper-ation in the katcha area of Kachi Jamal, a small island in the Indus where Chotu gang was hiding.

A policeman said they were facing some difficulties due to the sugarcane cropin the katcha area. He was optimistic that such a large scale operation would be able to eliminate the dacoits.

RPO Rehmatullah Niazi and Rajanpur DPO Zahid Mahmood told media the gangs would be arrested soon as police and other law enforcement agencies had encircled the area. Dawn Report