Police gun down two 'militants' in encounter

40 suspects arrested during targeted operation in Baldia Town

KARACHI: Two suspected militants were killed during an alleged encounter with the police in the outskirts of the city on Monday, while over 40 suspects were detained during a search operation in Baldia Town neighbourhood.

The two suspected militants were killed during a shoot-out with the police in Shah Latif Town. The killed terrorists were allegedly affiliated with the banned militant outfit, alQaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).



The suspects were allegedly involved in targeted killings of members of the Ahmadi and Shia communities, as well as the killing of a police officer in Karachi. The encounter took place when an extra contingent of District Malir police conducted a raid at the suspects' hideout at a house in Shah Latif Town Sector B-21. District Malir SSP Rao Anwar said the encounter took place when the culprits opened fire at the police.

According to the SSP, the police retaliated and the two militants were resultantly killed during the exchange of fire. Their bodies were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth after medico-legal formalities were completed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. One of the suspects was identified as Abu Huzaifa, while the other accused has yet to be identified.



The killed terrorists belonged to AQIS, the SSP said, adding that other than being involved in killings of members of the Shia and Ahmadi communities, the suspects were also involved in the targeted killing of DSP Afzal Shigri. The police also claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.

Separately, over 40 suspects were taken into custody during a crackdown against the criminals by the police in Baldia Town's Afridi Colony. The police, in collaboration with the paramilitary force, conducted an operation against the criminal elements in the area.

According to Baldia division SP Arif Razzak, around 40 suspects were detained during the operation, while the police also recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. The suspects were shifted to different police stations for further investigation.