FIR registered against Rangers for killing man

Raid was to capture a suspected suicide bomber belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, police said.

KARACHI:

The police have registered a case against Rangers personnel for killing a man during a raid in Sukkan, Malir.

The raid was to capture Samiullah, a suspected suicide bomber belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, police said.

At least four Rangers vehicles reached the residence of 33-year-old Jan Muhammad, where Samiullah was reportedly hiding. As the Rangers began the raid, the suspect managed to escape by scaling a wall. The law enforcers opened fire to stop him but Jan Mohammad got in the way and was fatally injured.

The victim was the father of three children and hailed from Waziristan.

Following the incident, the victim’s family protested outside the Sukkan police station. An FIR was then registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code. SHO Sarfaraz Ali said that initial investigation suggests that the Rangers did not intend to kill Jan Muhammad.  “Samiullah was living with Jan Muhammad. Was he really that innocent if he was giving shelter to a suicide bomber?”

The officer said that Rangers have also detained Samiullah’s brothers for interrogation. Samiullah’s cell phone was also seized.

When contacted, a Rangers spokesperson said that he had no knowledge of the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.