Three policemen were martyred and one injured while trying to foil a robbery targeting passengers returning from the shrine of a Sufi saint in Dadu district on Monday night. The incident occurred near Fareedabad town in Mehar taluka.

SSP Dadu Amir Saud Magsi confirmed the deaths of cops Imamuddin Khoso, Irfan Chandio, and Hafeez Mahesar. The injured officer, Sikandar Bhurgari, has been shifted to a hospital in Larkana in serious condition. Two nearby villagers were also injured by gunfire when the fleeing robbers forcibly entered their homes.

Police said they received reports of robberies and motorbike snatchings from devotees of Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Godario, returning from the shrine in the mountainous Kaacho region. Thousands were visiting the site for the saint’s 742nd urs.

A police party was dispatched to intercept the robbers, who were looting a passenger van at the time. The bandits assaulted the cops, resulting in the fatalities. No casualties among the robbers have been reported. Locals staged a sit-in protest, claiming seven armed men had robbed five motorcycles and other vehicles before police arrived.

All suspects managed to escape. The bodies of the martyred officers were moved to Taluka Hospital Mehar. Inspector General of Sindh Police Javed Alam Odho has taken notice and directed DIG Hyderabad to reach Dadu and submit a preliminary investigation report. The IGP also ordered police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible.