At least two children were killed and 12 women and children seriously injured during an alleged drone operation carried out by Ghotki police in the riverine area of Gheil Pur in Kashmore district on Thursday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the injured were shifted to a Kashmore hospital by local residents, while two critically injured victims were later referred to Sukkur for advanced medical treatment.
Residents of the area alleged that Ghotki police carried out a drone attack on their homes late at night during an ongoing operation in the katcha area.
They claimed that the drone strike resulted in the death of two children and left 12 women and children seriously injured.
The affected families said they were neither criminals nor facing any registered cases and demanded justice, insisting that innocent civilians had been targeted during the operation.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for Kashmore police rejected the allegations, stating that no one was killed or injured in any drone attack.
The Kashmore Police spokesperson added that the incident was being investigated to ascertain the facts.
On January 7, 2026, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar announced a grand operation against the dacoits of the katcha area.
Addressing a press conference in Sukkur with Sindh IGP Javed Alam Odho sitting beside him, Lanjar said that those dacoits who would surrender would be given a chance to face cases against them, while all those who would not lay down their arms would be eliminated.
He further said that the provincial police were fully capable of taking on these robbers and that the Force enjoyed the support of Rangers, adding that the need to call the army in these circumstances would not arise.
The minister went on to say that the Sindh Police would be provided with all weapons it would ask for.
He informed the media that the hideouts of dacoits were being targeted in the katcha areas of Kashmore, Ghotki and Shikarpur.
The Sindh home minister appreciated the Punjab government for its support in a recent “successful” operation wherein a no-go Katcha area was vacated.
Responding to a question about whether the Army’s help will be sought, Lanjar said, “The Sindh police are capable, and the Rangers are with us, so I do not think we will need the Army in our internal matters here.”
When a reporter mentioned that the dacoits employed drones, Lanjar said, “I do not think drones have reached them. Action is definitely being taken against their facilitators, too.”
Reporter Zubair Ahmad Kalwar