DADU: Malook Chandio alias `Bichhu`having a 20-year history of crime was killed in an encounter near the Kachho area of Dadu district, police claimed on Friday.

According to a press release issued by Dadu SSP retired Captain Ameer Saud Magsi, the police had received a tip-off about presence of Bichhu and hisassociates in an area near Khairpur Nathan Shah.

Acting upon the intelligence report, Dadu police and CIA carried out a joint action. Officers and personnel from different police stations were detailed for the action, he said, adding that an exchange of fire took place when the outlaws were challenged.

The SSP claimed that during the encounter, Malook Chandio alias Bichhu (scorpion), son ofKhan Mohammad was found killed. `The police side suffered no loss of life in the shootout,` he added.

According to SSP Magsi, Chandio was the ringleader of an inter-provincial gang involved in heinous crimes.

He and his gang members were wanted in scores of cases pertaining to the killing of several police officers and personnel, armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom.

`Bichhu had become asymbol of terror in parts of Sindh and Balochistan over the last two decades, the SSP said, adding that the Sindh government had placed a bounty of Rs4 million on his head.

The police officer said that the gang`s weapons found at the encounter site were taken into custody.

Bicchu`s body was shiftedto a nearby hospital for legal formalities, he said.

According to the press release, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon and Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razzaq Dharejo have commended the police team and congratulated SSP Magsi on this breakthrough.