Who watches the watchmen? Crime on the rise even though police take no prisoners during encounters
Recent report shows encounters and killings have also increased.
A total 8,958 cases were registered in the first five months of last year for vehicular theft and snatching, while in the same period this year, 9,054 cases have been registered.
KARACHI:
Killings of alleged criminals during encounters in the first eight months of the ongoing Karachi operation have broken all records, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Police in overdrive
At least 1,277 encounters have taken place during the first eight months of the operation from September 5, 2013 to May 11, 2014, in which the police claim to have killed 253 alleged criminals. The criminals killed include robbers, murderers, extortionists, kidnappers, gangsters and militants. In the corresponding period last year — from September 5, 2012 to May 11, 2013 - a total of 796 encounters took place and 81 alleged criminals were killed, stated an official report issued by the Karachi police.
However, despite the increased police actions and killings of alleged criminals in encounters, the police have failed to stop crime.
The criminals have been busy
The report suggests that 195 cases of extortion were registered in the first five months of 2014 while 136 cases were registered during the first five month of 2013.
Similarly, there has been a marked increase in cell phone snatching cases since last year. A total of 3,839 cases were registered in the first five months of 2013, while 5,638 cases have already been reported this year. A total 8,958 cases were registered in the first five months of last year for vehicular theft and snatching, while in the same period this year, 9,054 cases have been registered.
However, the report did show a reduction in robberies, stating that 959 cases have been reported this year, while 1,079 were reported during the first five months of last year.
Power trip?
The recent killings of two young men in a ‘fake’ encounter in Orangi Town raised questions over the credibility of the police. On April 17, two young men, later identified as Naseer and Imran, were shot dead in a fake encounter on the MPR Road in Orangi Town, within the limits of Pirabad police station. Earlier the police officials had claimed that both the deceased were criminals and were looting passers-by when they were killed in an encounter with police personnel who were on patrolling the area.
However, questions were raised regarding the police claims after a private news channel aired the footage of the killings, which showed uniformed personnel and a civilian next to a white Suzuki Mehran. It was apparent from the footage that the personnel did not find anything illegal on the victims.
As the uniformed personnel frisked the two suspects, the footage captured the plainclothes personnel firing shots into the air. The next scene showed the victims’ bodies in an ambulance.
In the last week of April, a murder case was registered against the two policemen and a civilian. The three accused have, however, managed to escape despite the registration of the case, allegedly with the help of their seniors.
The families of the deceased are still seeking the justice. “We are not demanding that these policemen should be killed like they killed our loved ones. All we want is justice,” said a relative of Naseer.
“We have been unable to arrest them as they did not belong to Karachi and have now escaped the city,” Orangi division SP Sajid Sadozai told The Express Tribune.
This incident was not the first case of extrajudicial killing. Earlier in February, an anti-terrorism court gave death sentences to five policemen of the Anti-Car-Lifting Cell (ACLC) after finding them guilty of killing four Quetta-based traders in a ‘fake’ encounter on Khalid bin Waleed Road on December 31, 2009. The ACLC team had earlier claimed that the men had opened fire on them from their car and the police had retaliated in self-defence. It was, however, observed in the judgment that after killing the traders, “the police registered a false and fabricated FIR to conceal their high-handedness.”
Such incidents have led to calls for more checks on the police. “There should be a check on the exercise of police powers but it is more vital that their powers are not withheld or they will be unable to prevent crime,” said former Sindh IGP Afzal Shigri while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2014.
Killings of alleged criminals during encounters in the first eight months of the ongoing Karachi operation have broken all records, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Police in overdrive
At least 1,277 encounters have taken place during the first eight months of the operation from September 5, 2013 to May 11, 2014, in which the police claim to have killed 253 alleged criminals. The criminals killed include robbers, murderers, extortionists, kidnappers, gangsters and militants. In the corresponding period last year — from September 5, 2012 to May 11, 2013 - a total of 796 encounters took place and 81 alleged criminals were killed, stated an official report issued by the Karachi police.
However, despite the increased police actions and killings of alleged criminals in encounters, the police have failed to stop crime.
The criminals have been busy
The report suggests that 195 cases of extortion were registered in the first five months of 2014 while 136 cases were registered during the first five month of 2013.
Similarly, there has been a marked increase in cell phone snatching cases since last year. A total of 3,839 cases were registered in the first five months of 2013, while 5,638 cases have already been reported this year. A total 8,958 cases were registered in the first five months of last year for vehicular theft and snatching, while in the same period this year, 9,054 cases have been registered.
However, the report did show a reduction in robberies, stating that 959 cases have been reported this year, while 1,079 were reported during the first five months of last year.
Power trip?
The recent killings of two young men in a ‘fake’ encounter in Orangi Town raised questions over the credibility of the police. On April 17, two young men, later identified as Naseer and Imran, were shot dead in a fake encounter on the MPR Road in Orangi Town, within the limits of Pirabad police station. Earlier the police officials had claimed that both the deceased were criminals and were looting passers-by when they were killed in an encounter with police personnel who were on patrolling the area.
However, questions were raised regarding the police claims after a private news channel aired the footage of the killings, which showed uniformed personnel and a civilian next to a white Suzuki Mehran. It was apparent from the footage that the personnel did not find anything illegal on the victims.
As the uniformed personnel frisked the two suspects, the footage captured the plainclothes personnel firing shots into the air. The next scene showed the victims’ bodies in an ambulance.
In the last week of April, a murder case was registered against the two policemen and a civilian. The three accused have, however, managed to escape despite the registration of the case, allegedly with the help of their seniors.
The families of the deceased are still seeking the justice. “We are not demanding that these policemen should be killed like they killed our loved ones. All we want is justice,” said a relative of Naseer.
“We have been unable to arrest them as they did not belong to Karachi and have now escaped the city,” Orangi division SP Sajid Sadozai told The Express Tribune.
This incident was not the first case of extrajudicial killing. Earlier in February, an anti-terrorism court gave death sentences to five policemen of the Anti-Car-Lifting Cell (ACLC) after finding them guilty of killing four Quetta-based traders in a ‘fake’ encounter on Khalid bin Waleed Road on December 31, 2009. The ACLC team had earlier claimed that the men had opened fire on them from their car and the police had retaliated in self-defence. It was, however, observed in the judgment that after killing the traders, “the police registered a false and fabricated FIR to conceal their high-handedness.”
Such incidents have led to calls for more checks on the police. “There should be a check on the exercise of police powers but it is more vital that their powers are not withheld or they will be unable to prevent crime,” said former Sindh IGP Afzal Shigri while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2014.