Violence in the city: Police continue to be targeted as two traffic officials killed

An elderly man was shot dead at the Bhens Colony Morr within the limits of the Shah Latif police station.

KARACHI: Two personnel of the Traffic police were shot dead in an act of targeted killing in Orangi Town, suspected to be in reaction to the law enforcement agencies' operation against militants in Karachi.

The targeted killings took place when the traffic police personnel were performing their routine duty at Orangi Town No 5. "They were busy performing their routine duties when the incident took place," said Orangi division SP Sajid Sadozai. "Two armed men riding a motorcycle shot at them and escaped. The victims were shot multiple times."

They were immediately taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where both of them succumbed to their injuries. Both the victims were posted at the Orangi Town Traffic Police Section. Following the incident, police officials reached the site to investigate the incident and did not to rule out the possibility of the involvement of militants in the attack. "The militants want to take revenge of the killings and arrests of their members by law enforcers," said Sadozai. "The traffic police provide them with an easy target."

Meanwhile, about a dozen suspects have so far been killed in the district during separate raids and operations by the police and Rangers, but the militants still continue their activities; killing three policemen of the Pirabad police station last week while they patrolled the Manghopir area.

Man shot dead

Separately, an elderly man was shot dead in an act of targeted killing at the Bhens Colony Morr, within the limits of the Shah Latif police station. The deceased was identified as 65-year-old Muhammad Rehman, son of Saeed Rehman. Police officials said that unidentified armed men shot and killed the victim. However, the motive behind the attack is yet to be ascertained. His body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Bodies found

Meanwhile, the bodies of the two men were found separately in Sohrab Goth. One body was found near the Malik Agha Hotel on the Super Highway and another from the Sohrab Goth Industrial Area.

Police officials said that both men were killed after being kidnapped; adding that after kidnapping the victims, unidentified culprits tortured them before shooting them. The bodies were moved to the Edhi morgue, Sohrab Goth, for identification after medico-legal formalities were completed at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

The police kill a robber

In an unrelated incident, an alleged criminal was killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Phase VIII of the Defence Housing Authority, within the limits of the Gizri police station. Police officials said that the robber was killed in an encounter after being caught red-handed.

During the resulting exchange of fire, a robber who is yet to be identified was killed but his companion managed to escape. Police officials claim to have recover a TT pistol and a motorcycle from his possession. The body was moved to the Edhi morgue, Sohrab Goth for identification.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2014.