Timely action: Two robbers killed as police foil robbery attempt in DHA

SIU claim to have arrested a target killer responsible for murders of ANP, MQM workers.

KARACHI: Police claim to have killed two robbers in an alleged encounter in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Monday. Meanwhile, an alleged target killer of political workers was arrested from the outskirts of the city.

The encounter took place when the two suspected members of a gang of house robbers entered a bungalow, located at Phase VII, Khayaban-e-Badban, at around 4:45am. The bungalow is owned by a businessman. Fortunately, before they could hold the family hostage, one of the members called the 15 Madadgar and informed the police about the incident.

The police immediately rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. They asked the robbers to surrender but the latter attempted to escape under the cover of firing. In the retaliatory fire by the police, the two robbers were killed.

"We did not find any vehicle in which they may have arrived," said Gizri SHO Ghulam Hussain Korai. "We suspect that a car was on their backup support but their comrades had fled when they heard our sirens."

The bodies were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for autopsy and later moved to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for identification. A case has been registered while further investigation was underway. Karachi Police chief AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo has announced a Rs100,000 reward for the police party.

There has been a marked increase in incidents of house robberies and muggings in DHA and Clifton areas over the last few months. Recently, a mother of two lost her life at Khayaban-e-Bukhari for resisting a robbery bid. Two days ago, Darakshan police also arrested two teens of Afghan origin while they were attempting to rob a citizen in the area.

Separately, Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claim to have apprehended a suspect, identified as Tanvir alias Jumbo, during a targeted raid conducted in Ibrahim Hyderi. SIU officials said that the accused is a member of a gang of dacoits and has been involved in various cases of crime in Darakshan, Taimuria and Korangi. The officials added that he was also involved in the murders of Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers. Weapons were also seized from his possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.