An station house officer (SHO) in Sukkur was killed in an exchange of fire with suspected robbers on Monday, according to the police.

Robbers opened fire on a police patrol at a link road in the area, killing SHO Bagarji Syed Subhan Shah, police said.

Subhan Shah, critically injured in the gunfight, was rushed to Civil Hospital Sukkur for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The robbers managed to escape from the scene.

A search operation was launched in the area following the exchange of fire and several people were taken into custody for interrogation.

Sukkur SSP Amjad Ali Sheikh told journalists that an operation had been launched in Katchha area of the Indus River for the arrest of the attackers. He claimed that police had received clues regarding the gang behind the attack on the police officials.

Following the attack, police arrested as many as 13 outlaws, officials claimed.