Targeted raid: Police gun down two alleged gangsters

Suspects injure SHO, police constable during the encounter

KARACHI: Two suspected gangsters were killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Mauripur on Wednesday, while a cop and the Kalakot police station SHO were also injured.

The encounter took place when a heavy contingent of policemen conducted a raid at the suspected hideout of the gangsters located in 500 Quarters, Mauripur. According to SSP Faizullah Korejo, the police faced retaliation when they raided the hideout of the suspects. The alleged gangsters opened fire at the police, injuring Kalakot police station SHO Ayaz Khan and police constable Anwar.

SHO Khan was taken to Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment, where Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja visited him to inquire about his condition. The SSP added that the police retaliated with full force and killed two suspects. The bodies of the suspects were also taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi for autopsies, where the deceased were later identified as Ghulam Akbar alias Gulabo and Ghulam Mustafa alias Bhola.  According to the police, the suspects were Lyari-based gangsters and had allegedly been involved in several cases of crime, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, extortion and encounters with law enforcers. The police also claimed to have recovered weapons during the raid. Cases have been registered and further investigation is under way.

Separately, a suspected target killer, who was allegedly involved in sectarian killings in the city, was reportedly arrested during a raid by law enforcement agencies. The suspect, Fahad Zaidi, was arrested during a raid in Abbas Town and was later shifted to an unidentified location for further questioning. The police and Rangers, however, did not admit to or disclose his arrest.

Meanwhile, Khawaja also visited the injured police constables who were brought to Karachi from Quetta after the attack on a police training school in Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2016.