Police arrest six suspects in 'unsuccessful' raid

DPO Aitzaz Goraya unhappy so many accomplices escaped.

SUKKUR:

The Sukkur police have arrested six suspects in an "unsuccessful" raid on Friday because several accomplices managed to escape.

Addressing a news conference, Sukkur DPO Aitzaz Goraya said that they started the operation in Kandhra on Friday morning. The police received information that a large number of criminals were gathering in Arz Mohammad Katohar village near Kandhra, said Goraya.

"Even though we were not sure why they were gathering, we decided to launch the operation before a tribal feud or an untoward situation developed," he said.

According to Goraya, a heavy contingent of police in armoured personnel carriers, led by Sukkur SP Investigations Muneer Ahmed, raided the area. When the suspects saw the police, they opened fire.

There was a resulting encounter but it did not last long. The police caught six men along with six Kalashnikov rifles, three shotguns, three repeaters, a rifle and huge amounts of ammunition.

The DPO refused to share the names of the arrested men and said that they are confirming their identities from their respective neighbourhoods.

Goraya said, however, that the operation cannot be declared successful because several other suspects escaped. The police have set up pickets in the area and will arrest them soon. Since none of the suspects have produced licences, "we are assuming the arms are unlicensed", said Goraya. The arrested men and the confiscated weapons were produced before the media after the news conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2011.