Behind bars: Rangers arrest ‘target killer’ and seven other suspects

SIU nabs alleged bank robber and his accomplices from Mauripur Road after encounter.

KARACHI: Undeterred by attacks on their outposts in the recent past, Rangers conducted raids in multiple neighbourhoods of Frontier Colony on Friday and arrested eight suspects, including an alleged target killer.

A Rangers spokesperson said that paramilitary personnel arrested the alleged target killer, Bacha Khan, after an encounter at a teashop near Frontier Colony Morr. The suspect was wounded, and officials seized weapons from him. The Rangers then proceeded to search a nearby building, where they nabbed another seven suspected criminals. The law enforcers seized five vehicles without number plates, as well as, weapons and several rounds of ammunition. None of the suspects were handed over to police as paramilitary officials shifted them to an undisclosed location for investigation.



Meanwhile, the police’s Special Investigation Unit arrested an alleged bank robber, Shahid alias Chacho, after a brief encounter on Mauripur Road. SIU officials said that two of the suspect’s companions were also arrested. SIU officials said that the men had recently robbed a bank in Malir. Memon Goth police claimed to have arrested an alleged criminal, Zulfiqar alias Bhutto, and seized weapons from him. SHO Rao Rafiq said that Zulfiqar was wanted in several criminal cases, including those involving murder and attempt to murder.

Meanwhile, in North Nazimabad, two men on a motorcycle stopped a car near Banaras flyover and were trying to snatch the vehicle from its driver, according to eyewitnesses. However, the driver took out a pistol and shot one of the men, and then drove away.

The suspected robber was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he died during treatment. The body was shifted to Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for identification.

The police said that they are not sure at this point if the incident was a failed robbery bid or an unsuccessful target killing operation, and they are waiting for the victim to be identified before they undertake further investigation. They also found a 9mm pistol with the body. Two men on a motorcycle shot Waseem Akram, 38, near Keamari Gate No. 15. He was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre with critical injuries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2012.