Raids and encounters: Suspect behind ASI Babar’s killing shot dead

A Lyari-based gangster was also killed while 11 other suspects were taken into custody.

KARACHI: An alleged militant, believed to be involved in the killing of ASI Babar, and a Lyari-based gangster were killed in separate encounters with the police on Saturday.

Eleven other suspects were arrested during the on-going raids and operations in the city.

An alleged Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) member was killed during a raid conducted by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Mominabad, Orangi Town, late Friday night. CID officials said that they raided the militants’ hideout on a tip-off. They had received information on the involvement of the suspected militants in target killings of policemen, particularly that of ASI Babar of the Pirabad police who was gunned down on Friday night in Orangi Town.

Upon seeing the police, the militants resorted to indiscriminate fire and tried to flee. However, an exchange of fire ensued, during which one of the militants was killed. His companions managed to escape under the cover of fire. The body was shifted to Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth after medico-legal formalities were completed at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. He was later identified as Haider Khan Mehsud.

Police officials claimed that the deceased militant was a resident of Sultanabad, Manghopir, and had been involved in various cases of crime including target killings of policemen in District West.

Similarly, an alleged member of the Lyari-based gang was killed during an exchange of fire with the Anti-Violent Crime Unit (AVCC) police in Do Darya, DHA. The deceased gangster was later identified as Makhdoom alias Don. A pistol and a motorcycle were also recovered from his possession. AVCC officials said that the he was involved in various cases of crime including kidnappings.

In a separate incident, four suspects were apprehended during raids conducted by the Rangers in Baldia Town. A Rangers spokesperson said that a target killer, affiliated with a political party, was also among the detainees.

In another raid, Rangers claim to have taken into custody four more suspects during a raid in Orangi Town. According to a Rangers spokesperson, the arrested suspects belong to a banned outfit, adding that weapons and a stolen motorcycle were also recovered from their possession. The suspects were shifted to undisclosed location for further interrogation.

Separately, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claim to have apprehended a suspect allegedly involved in various cases of extortion. SIU officials said that the arrest was made during a raid conducted in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The accused was later identified as Abdul Rasheed. Officials added that the suspect was arrested while he was threatening the owner of a car showroom in Gulshan-e-Iqbal for extortion.

Meanwhile, two more suspects allegedly involved in different crimes were rounded up during routine checking in Garden.

The suspects were identified as Asif and Nadeem. Police officials said that the accused were involved in more than 100 cases of crime.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.