Busted: Police nab suspected motorcycle snatchers

Two alleged Lyari gangster killed in separate encounter

KARACHI: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) of the Criminal Investigation Agency claimed to have arrested two suspected motorcycle snatchers from the metropolis.

The suspects, identified as Ibrahim Ali and Zafar Iqbal, were said to have been arrested after an exchange of fire during a police raid on Mai Kolachi Road. The suspects' arrests were disclosed during a press conference by ACLC chief SSP Irfan Bahadur at his office on Friday.

"The criminals have been involved in transporting motorcycles to different parts of the country after snatching and stealing them from Karachi," said SSP Bahadur.  "So far they have transported hundreds of motorcycles to other parts of the country."

He claimed the suspects have revealed names of more gang members in the city and other parts of the country, adding that a separate police team has been formed to arrest all the members of the interprovincial gang.

The police also claimed to have recovered at least 20 motorcycles from their hideout which were allegedly snatched or stolen from different parts of the city. Police are tracing the motorcycle owners to give them back their vehicles.

Encounter in Lyari

Earlier, two suspects allegedly linked to a Lyari gang were killed during a police encounter. Police said the encounter took place when police conducted a raid at suspected gangsters' hideout in Mochko, Lyari, adding that the gangsters opened fire and tried to escape. As the police returned fire, the two gangsters were killed. City SSP Fida Hussain said the bodies of the deceased were taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi, where they were later identified as Shahbaz and Shakeel Commando, said to be affiliated with Uzair Baloch and Baba Ladla groups, respectively. Weapons were also recovered from their possession, said the SSP.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd,  2016.