Late last night, five Elite Force personnel were martyred and two others injured in a heavy attack by bandits on the Shekhani checkpost in Punjab’s Sadiqabad region. The ambush, carried out with automatic weapons and rocket launchers, led to an intense gunfight that left one attacker dead on the spot.
According to District Police Officer Irfan Ali Samoun, the assailants were part of an organized group of dacoits operating in the area, known for its entrenched criminal networks. The officers, despite being outgunned, fought back fiercely before laying down their lives in the line of duty.
The martyred officers have been named as Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Saleem, and Nakheel from Bahawalnagar, along with Muhammad Khalil and Ghazanfar Abbas from Rahim Yar Khan. Their sacrifice underscores the dangerous nature of security operations in the Katcha region, a known hotspot for criminal activity and violent resistance to law enforcement.
Punjab’s Inspector General of Police, Dr. Usman Anwar, ordered an immediate report from the Regional Police Officer in Bahawalpur and directed the District Police Officer of Rahim Yar Khan to hunt down those responsible without delay.
Condemning the attack, IGP Anwar hailed the bravery of the fallen officers and stressed that their martyrdom would not go in vain. He reaffirmed Punjab Police’s resolve to dismantle the dacoit networks operating in the region, adding that operations in the Katcha belt would continue with greater intensity.
This assault is a grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by police forces in high-risk zones, where state authority is often contested by armed criminal groups. Despite these dangers, the Punjab Police remain committed to restoring security and stability in these lawless pockets.