Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, DPO Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh claimed that after the release of two boys now there was no one belonging to Sukkur district held in captivity.

The relatives of the freed boys and a large number of villagers were also present on the occasion who garlanded the DPO and other police officials.

Shaukat Jalbani and Asad Mirani, residents of Khairpur, were kidnapped from the Technical Training College Sukkur on May 10.

The bandits had demanded a ransom but the relatives cooperated with police and kept informing them each and every development which took place between them and the dacoits.

The DPO said the dacoits were changing their hideout when they encountered a police team at the Jang Mori at about 1:30am.

An encounter took place which lasted for two hours after which the bandits managed to flee leaving behind the hostages and arms.

Shaukat Jalbani said the kidnappers had kept them with a notorious bandit Misrani Jatoi in Shah Belo forest along the Indus River. He said when the police conducted raids the dacoits used to hide in the trenches and exchanged fire with them.

He said the dacoits who had kidnapped them were constantly in touch with some one "Larik" by caste for our release who used to tell them to wait for an appropriate time.

He said they were kidnapped by Asghar Mahesar, Ghulam Haider Shaikh and Gul Lakhan who often used to visit the office of the college principal and they also had relations with the watchman of the college.

The DPO said the Khairpur police were interrogating the principal and permission was being sought from the government for his arrest while the watchman was under investigation.

The DPO said after the operation in Shah Belo it was difficult for the bandits to stay there as six police check posts had been established on the left bank of the river while several check posts had also been established in and around the forest. Some 400 policemen had been deployed there, he said.

He said District Nazim Nasir Hussain Shah visited the area on the other day and attended an Iftar reception with police officials.

He announced to establish two schools, one hospital in the Shah Belo forest, while electricity would also be supplied there.

He appealed to villagers of Shah Belo not to be afraid of bandits as they would be provided arms for self-defence.

He said if they cooperated with the police then the remaining dacoits in the area would also be eliminated.

The DPO disclosed that during the anti-dacoit operation from April 9 to Oct 15, 45 encounters took place in which 11 dacoits were killed, 22 injured and 39 dacoits arrested while 36 wanted men, 178 absconders and 19 Patharidars were arrested.

Police recovered 110 weapons from them including, Kalashnikovs, shotguns, rocket launchers and hand grenades.

He claimed that 15 motorcycles and eight tractors were also recovered from their possession and 60 per cent of the area had been cleaned in which 26 hideouts were smashed.

Bandits killed in the operation were identified as Ellahi Bux Lakhan, Anwar Magsi, Sabul, Abdul Rehman Kandrani, Haroon Nandvani, Shah Murad Misrani, Naeem Misrani, Qurban Misrani and Moore Chachar.

Rehman Kandrani, Haroon alias Haroo Nandvani were involved in the murder of DIG Sibi Abdul Aziz Bullo.