Day 5: 18 injured as Lyari sweep continues

A police commando and an alleged gangster were killed and over 18 others were wounded on Tuesday.

KARACHI:

A police commando and an alleged gangster were killed and over 18 others were wounded in the Lyari operation.

In the latest incident, a commando of the Rapid Response Force identified as Mohammad Tufail was killed as the gangsters fired at least five rockets within five minutes at an armoured personnel carrier (APC) when he and the force tried to enter Gul Mohammad Lane and Saifi Lane.

In the evening, law enforcers faced massive retaliation from the gangsters, who fired at least nine rockets within three minutes when the law enforcers once again tried to enter areas by Cheel Chowk. An alleged gangster identified as Tariq Siya, according to Anti-Extremism Cell officials, was killed during a fight with the police in Afshani Gali. But the police have no evidence to prove him dead.

At least 10 people were wounded when gangsters attacked people sitting at a hotel near Lea Market’s Napier. An ex-international footballer Javed Jan was injured while distributing food near Gabol Park in Kalakot. The Airport Security Force’s Aziz Baloch was also said to be injured by a stray bullet that hit at his house in Afshani Gali.

Lyari’s Nawa Lane, Ghareeb Shah Road, Juman Shah and Kalakot did not have electricity, gas, water and food.

As many as 45 people, including six policemen and six gangsters, have been killed and about 150 others wounded since the operation started on April 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2012.