Busted: Gangsters and drug dealers arrested in overnight search operations

Police found torture cell in Ghulam Mohammad Village.

KARACHI: About 75 suspects including alleged gangsters from the Arshad Pappu group were detained in overnight search operations carried out by Law Enforcement Agencies in Pak Colony, Bahadurabad and North Nazimabad. They were taken to an undisclosed location for further investigation.

The authorities claim to have found a torture cell in Pak Colony. A source in the police told The Express Tribune that a few suspects were released after an initial interrogation. The first operation was launched in Jahanabad, Old Golimar and Ghulam Mohammad Village. A heavy contingent of policemen from six different police stations of Liaquatabad Town participated in the operation while personnel of the Frontier Constabulary were there for back up.

The entire area was cordoned off and no one was allowed to enter or exit while the operation was going on. Nearly 50 suspects were taken into custody. They also found a torture cell in Ghulam Mohammad Village. The police said that 15 suspects were released and cases were being registered against 11 others. They added that the operation had been carried out to catch the suspects responsible for creating unrest in Lyari on Tuesday.

District West DIG Imran Yaqoob Minhas confirmed that they had found a torture cell in a building that also had a gambling den. District West SSP Asif Ejaz Sheikh added that they had also arrested four gangsters from the Arshad Pappu group from the gambling den.  He added that they found bloodstained clothes, ropes, chairs, iron rods and chains inside the cell. The police said that an investigation was being carried out.

The police also carried out a raid in Dhoraji and Sherpao Colony. They took 15 suspects into custody and questioned them at a police station. The authorities suspect that the men were drug dealers. They seized weapons and drugs from them.

In North Nazimabad, the police detained at least 10 suspects in a search operation in Katchi Abadi in Brohi Goth. The police said that no weapons were seized.

The police and Rangers conducted raids in Ali Mohammad Mohalla, Nayabad, Nawa lane and Daryabad in Lyari.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.