DEAR GHAZI KHAN, Aug 11: Four policemen sustained injuries in an encounter with gangsters on Wednesday night in the precincts of Bangla police station, Rojhan tehsil, Rajanpur district, some 250 kilometres from here.

Reports said a police party, led by SHO Ghulam Abbas conducted a raid at the hideout of what they claimed Long Lathani gang in Mauza Kaccha Arazi at Chowk Birohi. When the policemen reached near the hideout, the culprits opened indiscriminate fire on them. The police retaliated and the three-hour long encounter concluded at 9:00pm when the outlaws managed their escape.

As a result SHO Ghulam Hussain, ASI Sajid Mehmood, constable Abdul Ghafar and driver Aasif Hussain received bullet injuries and were rushed to Rahim Yar Khan hospital. It is pertinent to mention that two bus passengers kidnapped a week ago, could not be recovered as the police had failed to trace the kidnappers.

Aabid Hussain and Rizwan were kidnapped from a Karachi-bound bus by unidentified tribal highwaymen in the jurisdiction of Shahwali police station. When this correspondent contacted Rojhan SDPO Qayum Nawaz Qaisrani, he was not available at his office as he had gone to inspect the place of the encounter. The Dera Ghazi Khan range DIG was also not available till the filing of this report.

TAUNSA BARRAGE: Rehabilitation of the Taunsa Barrage to save its basic structure will soon be started after consulting stakeholders, which is a precondition for obtaining an NOC from the Federal Environment Protection Agency, it is learnt here on Wednesday.

A public meeting will be held on Aug 23 at the circuit house in which representatives of the federal and provincial environment agencies will listen to the objections and concerns of people regarding the rehabilitation of the Taunsa Barrage.

When contacted, project consultant Dr Muhammad Afzal said the government was in search of international donors for the project. He said 43,406-foot log sill would be constructed to save the barrage's basic keel and structure. He said the project would be completed at a cost of Rs7 billion.