14 cops killed during 2020 in city

Deceased include seven constables, sub-inspector Shahid Ali who was martyred in PSX attack

KARACHI:

As many as 14 cops were killed in target killings, terror attacks, encounters and other incidents during 2020 in Karachi.

These included Gulistan-e-Johar additional SHO, one assistant sub-inspector, three sub-inspectors, two head constables and seven constables.

The first encounter of the year 2020 was reported on January 13, during which police constable Abdur Rehman was killed. Rehman was deputed at Ittehad Town police station. A robber was also killed during the encounter.

On March 19, unidentified armed men gunned down another constable, Jaffar Hussain, when he had resisted their bid to loot him in North Karachi.

Constable Muhammad Adil was killed after a trailer hit him in Madina Colony while he was on duty on March 30. He was deployed at Sindh Reserve Police Base I.

Then, on May 22, constable Mehboob Ali was killed during an encounter in the limits of Surjani Town police station.

Almost a month later, on June 29, sub-inspector Shahid Ali embraced martyrdom as law enforcers foiled a terror attack at the Pakistan Stock Exchange's building.

All four terrorists who had perpetrated the attack were kept from entering the building and killed due to timely action by the police.

Three security guards, who too played a role in thwarting the attack, were also martyred in the attack.

Earlier, on June 19, constable Irfan Khan was killed in an exchange of fire with a robber near the Northern Bypass in Manghopir.

Meanwhile, a sub-inspector died as a police mobile overturned while chasing robbers.

On July 3, constable Noman Ali, deputed in Muhafiz Force Unit, was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Manzoor Colony.

In a similar incident on July 11, constable Muhammad Asghar sustained wounds after armed men opened fire on him in Korangi. He succumbed to his injuries the next day during treatment.

On July 30, sub-inspector Yar Muhammad was killed in firing by unidentified armed men near the Northern Bypass in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Next month, on August 13, robbers gunned down a traffic police constable, Syed Mohammad Ali, near Karimabad flyover when he resisted their attempt to deprive him of valuables.

Another traffic police constable, Masood, was killed near Sher Shah on September 18.

A few days later, Gulistan-e-Johar additional SHO sub-inspector Abdur Rahim was killed during an encounter near Samama Shopping Mall on September 25. Last similar incident of a cop's killing in 2020 was reported on November 8, when constable Fayyaz was fatally wounded during an encounter with robbers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2021.