SUKKUR: Two gangs of dacoits blocked different sections of the Larkana-Sukkur highway in Shikarpur district and went on a looting spree on Saturday.

One gang blocked the highway section falling within the limits of the Madeji police station while the other did the same within the limits of the Gaheja police station.

They robbed many commuters by holding them at gunpoint. The commuters were deprived of their cash, mobile phones and other belongings.

Police could not reach the spots to apprehend the outlaws who, under the cover of heavy aerial firing, sped away into the nearby gang-infested riverine area.

Onlookers said that police parties did turn up but the criminals had already escaped. Meanwhile, a large number of people belonging to the Lehar community blocked a section of the Sukkur-Shikarpur highway at Zero Point on Saturday to hold a protest demonstration against failure of the police in recovering Anwar Lehar, who was allegedly kidnapped by gangsters almost a month back.

They told the media that the kidnapers had uploaded some video clips on the social media showing the victim being tortured in their custody.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024