At least six cops killed, 27 taken captive in `Zarb-i-Ahan` operation in Pak

Lahore: At least six police officials have been killed and 27 other taken hostage in the ongoing law-enforcement operation named Zarb-i-Ahan to cleanse the riverine area of Rajanpur district in south Punjab from the gangsters.

A senior police official lamented that the police forces deployed in the operation, named Zarb-i-Ahan, lack proper equipment, weapons and boats to launch an assault on the island.

The operation to dislodge the gangsters is proving to be a tough nut to crack for the local police forces, who lack proper training and equipment to conduct amphibious operations in the riverine areas.

"We used two boats that we acquired privately from locals but we were attacked and lost six men, while 27 were taken hostage," Dawn quoted a police official as saying.

He added that the driver of one of the boats was shot dead during the sally launched by security forces towards the gangster-controlled island.

The police official also confirmed that police forces have been unable to secure the 20 km-long piece of stretch.