Law enforcement action: Two alleged Lyari gangsters killed in police encounters

100 gamblers were also arrested, as well as a policeman accused of kidnapping seven people

KARACHI: Two suspected Lyari-based gangsters and an alleged street criminal were killed in separate police encounters. Meanwhile, nearly 100 gamblers and a police officer were arrested by law enforcement agencies on Wednesday.

The two suspected gangsters were killed during an alleged encounter with the police in the Kalakot area of Lyari. Police officials said that the encounter took place when the police conducted a raid at the their hideout on a tip-off, adding that the gangsters resorted to indiscriminate fire when trying to escape. The police retaliated, killing the two. Their companions managed, however, to escape under the cover of fire.

The police also claimed to have recovered weapons from their possession. Their bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital, Karachi, for autopsies, where they were identified as Asif and Faizan. Lyari SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said that the gangsters belonged to the Uzair Baloch group and were wanted by the police in various cases of crime, including cracker attacks, targeted killings and extortion. The cases were registered and further investigation is underway.

Separately, another suspect was killed during an exchange of fire with the police in Sohrab Goth. Police officials claimed that the encounter took place when the police were conducting snap checking in the Quetta Town area of Sohrab Goth, adding that three armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at them when the police tried to intercept them. Sohrab Goth SHO Aziz Shaikh said that the police followed them and killed one of men after an exchange of fire, while his companions managed to escape.

The police also claim to have recovered a pistol from his possession. His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for an autopsy, where he was identified as Khalid alias Khalu. SHO Shaikh said that Khalid was a member of a gang involved in various cases of street crime and house robberies, adding that the gang members would gang-rape women during the house invasions. Seven of the gang's members have already been killed in separate encounters with the police in the past.

Docks police have apprehended nearly 100 gamblers during a crackdown against gambling. The gamblers were apprehended during a raid at a gambling den in Machhar Colony. Police officials said that gambling implements were also seized and cases had been registered. SSP Hussain said that action would also be taken against the policemen if they were found to be involved in aiding the running of the dens.

Meanwhile, a police inspector was arrested red-handed while receiving ransom money from the family of an abducted person. ASI Akram, who was posted to the Pakistan Bazaar police station, was arrested by law enforcement agencies from Gharibabad and seven kidnapped people were also recovered from his captivity. The law enforcers also recovered bulletproof jackets and official weapons from his possession. The accused police officer was shifted to undisclosed location for further questioning, however, the police officials failed to confirm his arrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2016.