Islamabad: Gunmen believed to be bandits have raided a police check post and kidnapped seven policemen in Pakistan’s central province of Punjab on Sunday, officials said.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours in the district of Rahim Yar Khan.

Police reinforcements were sent to the area and a search launched in a wide area adjoining the southern Sindh province from where dacoits are known to operate from the forest.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to track down the dacoits and recover the kidnapped personnel.

Punjab’s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also issued a similar directive to the police high-ups.