LAHORE: At least eleven policemen were martyred and seven others sustained injuries following a coordinated rocket attack by Kacha bandits on police mobile vans in Rahim Yar Khan’s Machka area on Thursday, local media reporter.
The attack occurred in a riverine region of Punjab, known for its challenging terrain and criminal activity.
According to local media reports citing police sources, two police vans carrying over 20 policemen were trapped in rainwater in the Machka locality when bandits launched rockets at them. The ambush resulted in the martyrdom of at least 11 policemen. Additionally, seven officers were injured, and four others remain missing after the attack.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the dacoits’ attack, expressing deep grief over the loss of the officers’ lives. In a statement, he paid tribute to the martyred police personnel and offered prayers for the recovery of the wounded.
Naqvi assured that the government would provide support to the families of the martyred officers and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating the bandit groups.
Authorities have vowed to take strict action against the perpetrators and strengthen security measures to prevent such attacks in the future.
They had established a camp in Machka to monitor the movement of dacoits. The officers were returning from their duty when they were attacked by around 25 armed dacoits.
A large contingent of police from across the district was mobilized to the crime scene, led by District Police Officer Imran.
The bandit groups operating in the riverine areas of Punjab and Sindh have long been a challenge for law enforcement agencies. Despite several operations aimed at curbing their activities, these groups continue to pose a significant threat to public safety and security.
