Some headway: One runaway suspect rearrested

Two alleged criminals killed a cop, injured another, on Sept 30

KARACHI: A couple of days after two 'target killers' escaped from police custody, the Rangers claimed to have rearrested one of the absconding suspects during a raid in Korangi on Sunday.

The suspect, Abdul Malik Bengali, was rearrested during a raid conducted on a tip-off in Korangi, said a Rangers spokesperson in a press statement issued Sunday morning.

According to the statement, the arrested criminal [Bengali] was involved in the killing of policeman Rafiq and critical injury of another, Daim. Rafiq and Daim, along with the Station Investigation Officer (SIO) of the Korangi police station inspector Wasey Jhokio, were returning from an anti-terrorism court after acquiring the remand of two accused, Imtiaz Rind and Bengali, who were charged with the murder of a policeman and a civilian.

The accused were allegedly involved in the murder of head constable Yousuf Lodhi on September 20 as well as a milkman, identified as Babar, according to Korangi DSP Ghulam Nabi Wago. "The culprits are professional criminals and have been involved in various criminal activities in Korangi," Wago had explained.

Rafiq was killed when the two suspects managed to escape from police custody by shooting him and critically injuring Daim on Korangi EBM Causeway within the limits of the Korangi Industrial Area police station Friday evening. The suspects had reportedly used the SIO's weapon.

Jhokio, who was driving the car when the incident took place, was the only policeman who was not injured in the attack. Interestingly, only Rafiq had an official sub-machinegun at the time when the suspects were being transported back to the police station from the court in a private vehicle.

SIO Jhokio remains in the custody of the Rangers after the police had registered a case against him over negligence and helping the suspects in attacking the two policemen and fleeing.

The injured policeman remains admitted at an intensive care unit, where doctors are trying to save his life.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2016.