Man accused of cop’s murder killed

SUKKUR: Ghulam Mustafa Maitlo, who is believed to have been involved in the murder of a policeman on July 12, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with the police near the Gadani railway crossing in Sukkur on Tuesday, DPO Aitizaz Goraya revealed at a press conference on Wednesday.

A police team was patrolling the crossing when it encountered four armed men, said Goraya, who added that Maitlo was fatally wounded in the ensuing exchange of fire.

Two of his accomplices, Bhai Khan Mirani and Zubair Mirani, were arrested. Shahid Bhayo managed to escape.

Maitlo died at Civil Hospital Sukkur due to excessive bleeding, said the DPO.

He and his accomplices had allegedly robbed an alcohol store in Gharibabad on July 12 and were being chased by ASP Yousuf Bullo, Goraya said, adding that when Bullo had caught one of the robbers at Mehran Markaz, Maitlo and his accomplices killed the ASP to free their man.

The Sukkur police have recently initiated a search operation in the district’s central jail to nab prisoners who are controlling their gangs and committing crimes via mobile phones, the DPO also revealed.

“So far, more than 100 mobile phones, CDs, DVD players, drugs, knives and iron rods have been seized from the prisoners in collaboration with the district and jail police,” said Goraya, who added that 155 of the most “hardened criminals” have been shifted to other jails in Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2010.