No more hiding: Lyari gang suspect among two killed in raids

Around 38 suspects were arrested in different operations conducted by Rangers and police.

KARACHI: Two suspects, including a Lyari gang war criminal, were killed and 38 others were arrested during separate encounters with law enforcers in the city on Tuesday.

The first encounter took place after Rangers’ personnel conducted a raid on a tip-off in the Baghdadi in Lyari. According to sources, armed gangsters opened fire on the paramilitary force. During the exchange of fire, an alleged gangster was killed and another wounded. Moreover, around half a dozen suspects were apprehended during the encounter.

A huge cache of weapons were also recovered. The deceased gangster was identified as Sultan Umair and the injured as Chohta Jhengu. The arrested and injured suspects were later shifted to undisclosed location for further questioning.



There were reports of hand grenade attacks on law enforcers in Amn Park in Lyari on Tuesday after noon, however, police officials denied any information of it. “After last night’s encounter, there is a complete calm in Lyari,” said Lyari DSP Shakeel Ahmed, adding that they had also carried out a flag march and held meetings with senior residents of Lyari to request them to trust the law enforcers and stand united against the gangsters.

Extra contingents of Rangers and police officials were called in the troubled areas of Lyari as officials continued to conduct targeted raids and snap checking.

Separately, an alleged robber was killed and four others, including a woman, arrested during an encounter with the police in PECHS. Police officials said that the encounter took place when the police saw a group of criminals robbing a car dealer, Sher Afghan.

Afghan was on his way home after dropping his children at school when the outlaws intercepted him.

Police officials on routine patrol reached the spot and managed to kill one of the criminals and arrested four others. The police said the group which belonged to Malir was wanted by police in a number of cases.

Meanwhile, Rangers claim to have apprehended 28 alleged criminals during targeted raids in Zia Colony in Korangi, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, Taiser Town, Surjani Town, Frontier Colony, Metroville, Model Colony and parts of Lyari.

According to a spokesperson for Rangers, the arrested criminals include gang war elements and criminals affiliated with political groups.

Lyari MPA highlights plight of residents

Residents of Lyari have repeatedly complained to the top leadership about the arrests, unannounced curfews, raids and the one-sided operation of Rangers in their area, said Pakistan Peoples’ Party MPA Sania Naz on Tuesday.

The MPA also submitted to Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah the names of the 67 suspects arrested from Lyari in the last eight days. On Monday, she met the CM, MNA Faryal Talpur, Owais Muzaffar and others.

The PPP candidate for PS-111, Adnan Baloch, was arrested by Rangers, and tortured during detention said Naz. “He is in stable condition now but Rangers are apprehending innocent boys in Lyari.”

A Rangers spokesperson has, however, denied these allegations. “Neither was he arrested nor tortured,” he clarified.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2013.