Spring cleaning: Five more suspected killers rounded up

Almost 30 people were arrested in Saturday’s searches.

KARACHI:

The authorities arrested almost 30 suspects, including five alleged target killers, on Saturday as part of their ongoing attempt to purge the city of criminals.

The law enforcers met the usual protests by residents, claiming that they were arresting innocent people in their search operations.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) revealed that they have eight suspects in custody, of which two  may be linked to targeted attacks. Shehzad Hussain alias Imtiaz, Mohammad Hussain alias Hassan, Daulat Khan, Toor Gul, Baghi Jan, Abdul Ghaffoor, Ali Mubarak and Azizullah were arrested in separate raids in Macchar Colony, Korangi Industrial Area, Sir Syed, Chishti Nagar and Gulistan-e-Jauhar. They seized two Kalashnikovs, one repeater gun, five TT pistols and a Suzuki high-roof.

According to CID SSP Fayyaz Khan, the suspects were involved in target killings, extortion, kidnappings, police encounters and robberies. Two of them, Daulat Khan and Toor Khan, confessed to having killed two people in Larkana during the initial course of interrogation. Daulat Khan told the SSP that he killed police constable Shehzad in Larkana while Toor Khan confessed to the murder of a man named Razzak in Zaman Town police limits.

Separately, the CID’s Anti-Extremism Cell chief, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, gave his cell credit for three of the arrests. Two of the suspects, Kamran Siddiq alias Nomi and Tariq, were arrested in a raid in New Karachi Industrial Area while Akbar Ali was apprehended from Pak Colony. Three Kalashnikovs, a hand grenade and a 9mm pistol were seized from them. The men have confessed to killing at least half a dozen people including, Ahsan alias Munna, Zahid and Faisal in New Karachi. The chief said that they have not yet discovered the suspects’ political or religious affiliation, if, any and the identities of the people they killed are also being verified.

Meanwhile, about six people were caught and weapons were seized as the Rangers swept parts of Shah Faisal Colony on Saturday morning. The suspects were apprehended in door-to-door search operations in Shamsi Society, Millat Town, al Falah, Kehkashan Society, Salman Farsi Society and al Badar Society that lasted nearly five hours.  Most of the detainees were reportedly released after they were found innocent however, about a dozen men are still in custody. The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, spokesman told The Express Tribune that details are being put together for the media.

Earlier, police commandos from the area searched Gulshan-e-Iqbal’s Five Star Complex. The entire area was cordoned off during the operation and no one allowed in or out. However, no arrests were made. However, two suspects were apprehended in a search operation in Lyari’s Agra Taj Colony but the operation was cut short when the residents protested and resorted to intense aerial firing.

Reports claim that five alleged Lyari gangsters were also apprehended from Baldia but the arrests have yet to be announced officially.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2011.