The Karachi operation witnessed a big breakthrough on Tuesday when a commander for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and four of his accomplices were killed in an encounter.
The encounter between the militants and the Malir district police took place in Gulshan-e-Bunair, a militant stronghold, after the law enforcers received a tip-off. During the raid, the police claimed they faced massive resistance and had to call for back-up.
The entire locality was cordoned off and no one was allowed to go in or out during the operation. The exchange of fire between the militants and police continued, however, for only an hour, after which five militants were killed while a few of them managed to escape under the cover of fire.
Their bodies were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for autopsies. Two of the suspects were identified as Javed Mehsud alias Omar, and Irfan. The remaining bodies were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for identification.
Case files
District Malir police chief SSP Rao Anwar told The Express Tribune that Javed Mehsud was the ringleader of the TTP and he was operating their network in the Gulshan-e-Bunair locality of Landhi for the past several years. “He came to the city following the military operation in Swat during the tenure of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf,” SSP Anwar explained. “Since then, he has started his formal operations in the area.”
The militants killed in the encounter were involved in over 50 cases of target killings, including those of police and Rangers men. These militants had also attacked a polio vaccination team and killed two women in Gulshan-e-Bunair in December 2012. SSP Anwar further claimed that these suspects were also involved in various cases of bomb blasts and had recently targeted the Ayub Goth police post in district East.
According to SSP Anwar, the police also found a letter from the militants’ hideout. The letter, written by the TTP chief, asks the militant operatives to increase the targeted killings of law enforcers, particularly the ones in Karachi, to seek revenge of the military operation in North Waziristan. The police also found around 25 kilogrammes of explosives, pressure cooker bombs, tennis ball bombs and a huge cache of arms and ammunitions from the hideout. This group has more militants that the police team are trying to trace and arrest, said SSP Anwar.
Over 50 suspects, especially Taliban militants have so far been killed by the police and Rangers in various encounters in different parts of the city since the Pakistan army launched its military operation against the local and foreign militants in North Waziristan. Moreover, nearly 400 alleged criminals and terrorists have so far been killed in Karachi by the police and Rangers since the Karachi operation began in September 2013.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2014.
COMMENTS (8)
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And yet CM representative conceded in the ATC court recently that the govt & LEAs are unable to trace the network of these militants in Karachi....this operation is a contradiction of that statement.....
Terrorists have hurt regional peace for decades now. Pakistan has suffered economically as well thousands of innocent lives lost. United States Army General Campbell, in a recent interview said, “Both nations face common threats that attack their civilian populations and threaten their long-term development.” “Pakistan will continue to be critical partner in region,” He said. Yesterday’s raid on their hideout is a clear signal to the terrorists that if they do not put down their arms they will be eliminated.
Abdul Quddus Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
@Zeeshan: Its a question of analyzing the statement issued, i am not the one making any claims they are... Only the ignorant would buy it... which you seem to be doing...
The only cure for criminals and terrorists is to kill them. The luxury of courts does not apply during wars. Let the courts create hurdles in the way of underpasses and flyovers for the benefit of incompetent bureaucrats in places like DHA
@Dajjal seriously??? are you that ignorant. These militants don't for police to arrive for them to escape... Numerous would have escaped in the cover fire of a few before police can cordoned off. There is no rocket science in that, this is logical. We are not used to question even the good things that our forces do... we now cry on everything... Grow Up
"The entire locality was cordoned off and no one was allowed to go in or out during the operation. The exchange of fire between the militants and police continued, however, for only an hour, after which five militants were killed while a few of them managed to escape under the cover of fire."
It always fascinates me when they can contradict their complete story in one sentence.... Also, judging by how honest the LEA's are, one has to wonder if these guys were militants before or after they were shot dead...
Great efforts for karachi police but feels sorry it took about more then 1 year o find these thugs and butchers when everyone knows where and when these guys arrived in karachi
I salute your bravery. Exceptional work. I hope you bring all the killers of LEA personnel down.