Operation continues: Alleged TTP man killed in shootout

Police arrest 128 criminals including target killers.

KARACHI:

An alleged member of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed on Wednesday during an encounter in Karachi.

The encounter took place during the early hours of the day when Crime Investigation Department (CID), Rangers and intelligence agencies launched a joint operation in Manghopir locality.

“We had a tip-off about the presence of TTP men planning to carry out a major terror activity in the metropolis,” claimed the CID Deputy Inspector General Chaudhry Aslam Khan.

He said the forces had to face massive resistance from the terrorists when they raided their hideout in Sultanabad area of Manghopir.

Following the raid, a gunfight ensued in which a terrorist got injured and arrested. However, seven of his comrades managed to escape, said CID officials.



The injured Taliban succumbed to his injuries at Civil Hospital. Identified as Hazrat Ali, he was from Hakeemullah Mehsud group. Two hand grenades and a Kalashnikov were also recovered from him.

Separately, two suspected terrorists were apprehended from Gulshan-e-Buner area of Quaidabad. The suspects were identified as Amjad and Mir Jan. Two hand-grenades and two pistols were recovered from their possession.

Orangi Town police has claimed to arrest three terrorists in a raid. The police said the suspects were involved in cracker attack at the house of a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami a few hours before arrest. They were identified as Farooq, Ayaz and Tahir.

Police took 20 suspects into custody in a targeted raid on Pakistan Bazaar area of Orangi Town. The operation was conducted in the wake of targeted killings of four MQM men. Most of those taken in custody were released after interrogation. However, weapons were recovered from some of them.

Eighteen suspects were taken into custody during an overnight targeted operation in parts of Baldia Town. According to Superintendent Police Shahjahan Khan, six pistols and 2.5 kilogrammes of hashish were recovered. Further investigation was under way until the last reports.

In the 72 raids conducted in different parts of the metropolis, the police claims to have apprehended 128 criminals including 21 absconders, eight robbers and seven murderers. The police also claimed they recovered three bombs, 34 weapons and narcotics.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.