Sindh Police encounters: 30 suspects killed in Karachi

Around 266 police encounters took place Karachi in the previous year

KARACHI: Around 266 police encounters took place in the city in the previous year, during which 30 suspects were killed and another 65 were injured. Some 21 police officials were also injured during the alleged encounters. Many civilians also became victims of police fire in 2019.

In 2019, a couple was injured in Korangi area due to police firing. On February 22, 2019, a young student, Nimra, was killed when a stray bullet, from the exchange of fire between suspects and police in Sir Syed Town, pierced her.

In April 2019, a minor boy, Sajjad, was killed by police firing during a crackdown on drug peddlers in Quaidabad area. Another minor, Ahsan, suffered a similar fate when he was hit by a bullet fired by cops near Safoora Chowrangi. Similarly, a minor girl was injured in October during police firing in Landhi area. The cops had opened fire on stray dogs in the area when the minor was hit by a bullet. The most recent case was that of Nabeel Hoodhboy, a citizen who was killed by trigger-happy cops in November during snap checking near Cantt Station. His friend, Raza Imam, was injured in the same incident. The errant cops were reportedly arrested and their cases are under trial. The department has also initiated reforms in this regard, which include special training for police personnel.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2020.