Violence: Four people killed; two ‘bandits’ shot dead

Police claim to have arrested alleged target killer involved in 30 murders.

KARACHI:

Four people were killed in the city in separate violent incidents on Saturday while two suspects were shot dead in police ‘encounters’.

A 36-year-old man, identified as Fazal Mohammad, was shot dead in Gulshan-e-Sikandarabad in Keamari. The Jackson police said that the victim’s relatives, Mir Alam, Asif, Imran and Zeeshan, entered his house and had a verbal argument which escalated into a physical fight. SHO Yar Mohammad Rind said that during the scuffle, one of the relatives shot and killed Fazal Mohammad. The police have arrested all four suspects and seized a TT pistol. The SHO said that the fight broke out over a property dispute. The body was sent to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. A case has been registered against the four suspects.

An auto mechanic was shot dead in the Saddar area. Aram Bagh police said that 29-year-old Fahim Iqbal was standing outside his house when unidentified armed men on a motorcycle shot him dead. His body was shifted to the Civil hospital. The police said that the deceased belonged to the Kutchi community and had recently arrived from Balochistan.

Another man was gunned down near Timber Market within the jurisdiction of Kalakot police. The police said that 35-year-old Aqeel Ibrahim was shot dead by unidentified attackers on a motorcycle.

The body of a 20-year-old man, identified as Ehsan Baloch, was found in Mirza Adam Khan in Lyari, the Kalri police said. The victim lived in the Singu Lane area of Lyari. SHO Safdar Mashwani said that unidentified men had kidnapped Baloch from Mira Naka Road, shot him in the head and then threw away the body. The officer added that Baloch was a nephew of Shabana Baloch, the headmistress of Lyari Nursing School.

Police ‘encounters’

Two alleged bandits were killed on Saturday in separate encounters with the law enforcers.

The first incident took place as the police was in pursuit of a group of suspects travelling in a car and two motorcycles in North Nazimabad within the jurisdiction of Sharae Noor Jahan police. SHO Raja Tariq said that there was an exchange of fire in which one of the suspects on a motorcycle was injured. The suspects managed to escape and left his motorcycle behind. Shortly after the encounter, the body of the injured suspect arrived at the Civil hospital. The suspect was identified as Rashid and was a resident of Qasba Colony.

Another alleged bandit was killed near Dalmia, the Sharae Faisal police said. Two suspects were looting valuables from people when the police intervened. There was an exchange of fire between the suspects and law enforcers in which one of the bandits was killed but the other managed to evade arrest. The identity of the killed man has yet to be ascertained. An FIR against the suspects has been registered on the complaint of Pervez, whose cell phone had been stolen by the bandits. The police managed to get the cell phone back and also seized a TT pistol from the suspects.

‘Target killer’ arrested

The Anti-Violent Crime Cell claimed to have arrested an alleged target killer, identified as Iqbal aka Mandela, during a raid in the Pak Colony area. During a press conference held at the Garden Police Headquarters, DSP Mumtaz Magsi said that the law enforcers arrested the man near Gutter Baghicha on Manghopir road. During the interrogation, the suspect has confessed that he was involved in over 30 target killings and 20 extortion cases, he added. A Kalashnikov, repeater and TT pistol were also seized from him.

Two men allegedly affiliated with a Lyari gangster group, were arrested from Patel Para in Jamshed Quarters. Police officials said that Zahid and Bashir were arrested red-handed when they were trying to flee after resorting to indiscriminate firing in the area which led to a minor boy getting injured.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2012.