Enforcing the law: Second suspect linked to boxers’ murders killed in ‘encounter’

Two other alleged gangsters were killed by law enforcers in separate encounters.

KARACHI: A second suspect, allegedly involved in the abduction and murders of three Lyari boxers and two of their family members, was killed in an alleged encounter with the police on Tuesday. Meanwhile, two more alleged gangsters were killed in separate encounters with the law enforcers.

Ismail, his elder brother, Javed, their two cousins, Shoaib, Faisal, and their maternal uncle, Taj Mohammad, were killed allegedly by members of the Sheraz Comrade group of Lyari gangsters on the night between Monday and Tuesday.

An FIR No. 62/14 was registered against the Sheraz Comrade and his group’s members at the Mochko police station. One of the nominated accused, Nasir Baloch, claimed to have been killed by the police on the same day of the incident. Meanwhile, a second nominated accused, Nazeer, was killed during a police raid at Ali Mohammad Mohalla of Lyari on Tuesday.

Though police officials believe Sheraz Comrade to be the mastermind behind the killings, they have no evidence to link him directly to the incident as he has not been seen in the area since the last six months at the least.

“Two of the nominated suspects have been killed so far by police in separate encounters while the remaining will be killed or arrested soon,” said DSP Sohail Afzal, while speaking to The Express Tribune. He said that weapons were also seized from the deceased while further investigation was underway.

Separately, two more alleged gangsters were killed on the night between Monday and Tuesday in separate encounters with law enforcers. The alleged gangsters were identified as Saddam and Faisal Baloch. DSP Murtaza Mirani said that both gangsters were associated with the Shakeel Badhshah group of the Uzair Baloch gang, adding that one was killed in a joint raid by the police and Rangers in Kalri and in Kalakot.

Meanwhile, at least eight suspects were apprehended during targeted raids conducted by Rangers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2014.