Alleged LeJ militant, four ‘target killers’ among 20 arrested

Law enforcers arrest militant who may have been involved in the Rangers complex attack.

KARACHI:

An alleged Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant possibly involved in the Rangers complex attack and four suspected target killers were among 20 suspects rounded up by the law enforcers in raids across the city on Tuesday.

In Orangi Town, a man allegedly associated with the banned militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), was arrested during a search operation. The suspect identified as Anees-ur-Rehman was involved in many terrorism cases and attacking law enforcers, police sources said.

The suspect was shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation about his group’s involvement in the attack at a Rangers residential complex this month, which left at least three people dead.

In North Nazimabad, four men allegedly involved in numerous targeted killings were arrested during a sting operation.



The suspects were taken into custody by Rangers within the Sharae Noor Jahan police remits. But the police said they were not handed over to them for interrogation. The four alleged target killers were Waqas, Sabir, Hasham and Hamid, and their association with political or religious organisations was not disclosed.

In Liaquatabad, another suspected target killer allegedly associated with a political party was arrested by the police.

SP Haseeb Afzal Baig said the suspect, Athar Khan aka Athari, was wanted by police in several cases, including extortion, targeted killings, street crimes and riots. Further investigation is under way.



Khawaja Ajmair Nagri police also arrested a suspect, identified as Abdul Samad, who was carrying a 9mm pistol from North Karachi. The man was pretending to be a member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and was demanding extortion money from a trader, SHO Chaudhry Afzal said. In a raid at a house in Taiser Town, two alleged kidnappers were detained and weapons seized from them. Rangers have not disclosed their identification.

The Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) seized at least 17 stolen vehicles, said SSP Imran Shaukat on Tuesday. The ACLC police also arrested 11 suspects during the raids.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2012.