Caught red-handed: Police bust gang affiliated with LeJ

A police official who was a proclaimed offender and gambler was arrested in a raid.

KARACHI:

Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Police claim to have apprehended five alleged members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). The arrests were made after the SIU police raided their hideout in AB Sena Road after receiving a tip-off.

The arrested suspects were identified as Yasin alias Yar Mohammad, Ataur Rehman alias Attu, Rafiq alias Ameen, Sajid Abbas alias Vicky and Nadeem. Two hand grenades and four pistols were also seized from their possession. SIU chief SP Farooq Awan said that Yasin, affiliated with the LeJ, was the ring leader of the gang, which was involved in several cases of sectarian violence, street crime and robberies in the metropolis. He said that they were arrested when they arrived to collect Rs5 million in extortion money from a trader.

Separately, a couple was arrested over their alleged involvement in extortion activities during a raid in Baldia Town within the limits of Ittehad Town police station. Police officials said that the accused, identified as Abid and his wife, Farzana, used to threaten and demand extortion money from traders. A case has been registered against them while further investigation is under way.

Meanwhile, Mehmoodabad police claim to have apprehended over half a dozen gamblers during a targeted raid at the hideout of an organised gang run by notorious gambler, Alay Muhammad.

Clifton division SP Muhammad Nadeem said that Alay Muhammad is a police official and is posted as a line officer in Sindh police telecommunication department at Nawabshah. He is also a proclaimed offender and was affiliated with notorious gambler, Waseem Beater. SP Nadeem said that the police arrested six gamblers and five bookies including the gang leader, Alay Muhammad.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2014.