A journalist shared pictures of one of the officials on social media, saying the officials were "reportedly abducted, tortured, abused during anti-encroachment drive in Khipro".

DFO Mumtaz Ali Majidano and forester Din Mohammad Kumbhar, were returning to Kohri forest when alleged encroachers intercepted them and beat them up in Keti forest, quoted a staff officer of chief conservator Riaz Wagan in the report.

The encroachers detained the officers for around two hours and then released them in a nearby forest, Wagan said, adding the officials could not be located as they were deprived of their mobile phones.

A police team was supposed to provide security to forest officials during the operation which began on the directives of the Sindh High Court, Conservator Zulfiqar Memon was quoted saying in the report. The assault on the officials forced the forest staff to halt the operation, he added.