No respite: Woman among two killed in fresh spate of Lyari unrest
The clashes have intensified as rival groups try to occupy each others’ stronghold areas.
"We are unable to understand what is happening in Lyari. We do not even know how many people have been killed so far," Lyari SP Shahnawaz Khan. PHOTO: IRFAN ALI/EXPRESS/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
A man and a woman were killed while over half a dozen others were wounded in a fresh wave of violence between rival groups in Lyari on Saturday.
The volatile neighbourhood echoed with sounds of gunfire and explosions as routine and commercial activities remained suspended throughout the day. The most affected areas were Baghdadi and Kalri. During the clash, the gangsters opened indiscriminate fire and hurled hand grenades, rockets and awans at each other.
According to sources, the intensity of the clashes increased when members of the Baba Ladla group tried to enter and occupy the stronghold of Ustad Taju, who is associated with Ladla’s rival gang — Uzair Baloch.
Twenty-six-year-old Uzma, wife of Mehmood, was shot and killed near Khadda Market and Pashat Khan, son of Nadir Khan, was killed near Lea Market. “We are unable to understand what is happening in Lyari,” said Lyari SP Shahnawaz Khan. “We do not even know how many people have been killed so far.”
Though law enforcers claim to have apprehended over half a dozen suspects, they have been unable to stop or control the tense situation in the neighbourhood. The gangsters also attacked the police family quarters in Baghdadi.
Police officials are unaware of the actual situation in Lyari as they are stationed outside the affected areas. They claim, however, that some outsiders were also trying to enter Lyari to occupy the stronghold areas of Uzair Baloch. Meanwhile, the members of Uzair Baloch group stood atop the building rooftops to attack the stronghold areas of the Kutchi community.
Kutchi Rabita Committee condemned the attacks on the Kutchi community and demanded law enforcers to take action against the gangsters. KRC leader Hussain Kutchi said that the people belonging to the Kutchi community were confined inside their houses due to the frequent attacks. There were also some unconfirmed about killings and injuries of some gangsters, however, the relevant officials had no information regarding the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.
A man and a woman were killed while over half a dozen others were wounded in a fresh wave of violence between rival groups in Lyari on Saturday.
The volatile neighbourhood echoed with sounds of gunfire and explosions as routine and commercial activities remained suspended throughout the day. The most affected areas were Baghdadi and Kalri. During the clash, the gangsters opened indiscriminate fire and hurled hand grenades, rockets and awans at each other.
According to sources, the intensity of the clashes increased when members of the Baba Ladla group tried to enter and occupy the stronghold of Ustad Taju, who is associated with Ladla’s rival gang — Uzair Baloch.
Twenty-six-year-old Uzma, wife of Mehmood, was shot and killed near Khadda Market and Pashat Khan, son of Nadir Khan, was killed near Lea Market. “We are unable to understand what is happening in Lyari,” said Lyari SP Shahnawaz Khan. “We do not even know how many people have been killed so far.”
Though law enforcers claim to have apprehended over half a dozen suspects, they have been unable to stop or control the tense situation in the neighbourhood. The gangsters also attacked the police family quarters in Baghdadi.
Police officials are unaware of the actual situation in Lyari as they are stationed outside the affected areas. They claim, however, that some outsiders were also trying to enter Lyari to occupy the stronghold areas of Uzair Baloch. Meanwhile, the members of Uzair Baloch group stood atop the building rooftops to attack the stronghold areas of the Kutchi community.
Kutchi Rabita Committee condemned the attacks on the Kutchi community and demanded law enforcers to take action against the gangsters. KRC leader Hussain Kutchi said that the people belonging to the Kutchi community were confined inside their houses due to the frequent attacks. There were also some unconfirmed about killings and injuries of some gangsters, however, the relevant officials had no information regarding the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.