Operation continues: Two alleged militants killed

Unidentified men throw two grenades at closed factory.

KARACHI: Two alleged members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during an encounter with the Rangers personnel at Kunwari Colony on Thursday.

According to the Rangers spokesperson, the special unit of the Rangers raided the hideout at Kunwari Colony after receiving a tip-off. The alleged militants opened indiscriminate firing at the law enforcers, which resulted in an intense exchange of fire.

“During the exchange of fire, two members of the TTP, who were later identified as Saeedullah and Azam Mehsud, were killed,” said the spokesperson. The culprits belonged to the Abid Muchar and Zarwali group of the TTP, he added. The law enforcers also recovered fake ID cards, hand grenades and weapons from their possession.



Separately, the law enforcers claimed to have arrested 26 hardened criminals from various neighbourhoods in Karachi and shifted them to undisclosed locations for further investigation. The Rangers conducted raids in Saudabad, Gulshan-e-Maymar, Wireless Gate, North Nazimabad Block-N, Saleh Muhammad Goth, Old Golimar, Chanesar Goth, Korangi No. 2 ½, Rafa-e-Aam Society, Malir Khokrapar, Lyari, Fisheries and Railway Colony.

Most of these criminals were target killers, who were affiliated with a political party, the spokesperson further said. “We have cleared all these areas from unlawful activities and criminals,” he claimed. During snap-checking at Sea View, Hub River Road, Green Town and Jam Kunda Goth, the Rangers also seized several suspicious vehicles, he added.

Grenade attack

Meanwhile, unidentified motorcyclists threw two hand grenades at a closed factory in Orangi Town allegedly because the owners failed to pay extortion. According to Pirabad police, the factory’s owner, Zulfiqar, received an extortion slip two days ago. The slip demanded he pay Rs2 million to unidentified men. When he refused to pay, the suspects allegedly threw grenades to scare him into paying, said the police.

“One grenade failed to detonate,” pointed out one police official, adding that the law enforcement agencies rushed to the spot immediately and defused the bomb. “No causalities have been reported. The culprits just needed to create panic.”

Police arrests

East zone police also arrested 16 allegedly hardened criminals over the past 24 hours. According to a handout, the police also confiscated drugs, weapons and explosives from the suspects. In another raid in the West zone, the police also arrested nine other suspects, including fugitives.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2014.