SUKKUR: A gang of over 15 heavily armed dacoitssurrounded over60 mourners and deprived them of their cash and valuable belongings while they were returning home after burying their dead on Wednesday night.

The affected people told police that they were returning home after the burial of a young boy, Moharram Kalhoro, in Pir Fazil Shah Jillani graveyard when the gang suddenly emerged and surrounded them.

`The outlaws held all of us at gunpoint and deprive d us of money, mobile phones, wrist watches and other belongings,` they said, adding that the outlaws then escaped by firing into the air.

The victims claimed thata police party from the Bagarjipolicestation drove up to the graveyard after hearing the gunshot sound.

However, it left the graveyard saying that the area fell in the limits of the Tamachani police station.

A little later, a police party from the Tamachani police station arrived and heard details of the incident.

`Instead of going afterthe fleeing outlaws, the incharge of Khithar police post, Aijaz Jatoi, who was leading the party, started shouting at the victims, arguing that was it safe to bring the body to this graveyard at 10pm,` said the victims.

They said the police team told them that `lawlessness in the area is at its peak`, and that people should avoid coming to the grave-yard during night hours.

The victims deplored that their complaint / FIR was not registered at the Tamachani police station.

Abducted police worker freed A polio worker was freed in a Rangers-police action hoursafterhewasabducted by a gang and taken into the riverine area ofShikarpur, police claimed on Thursday.

The intelligence-based joint operation was successfully conducted in the Garhi Tegho area to safely recover the polio worker, Sanjay Oad, they said.

Sanjay was on duty along with a polio team when he was abducted within a Garhi Tegho locality on Thursday morning, the Shikarpur police said.