Targeted attacks: Three alleged gangsters among eight killed in the city

Two extortionists arrested in a raid.

KARACHI: Eight people, including three alleged gang members were gunned down in the city on Monday while two extortionists were arrested during a raid in the Katti Pahari area on Monday.

Three gang members were killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Baldia Town within the limits of the Saeedabad police station. At least six men on two motorcycles were stopped by the police during a routine patrol in Yousuf Goth. The men opened fire at the police and tried to escape. The police started firing back in retaliation and as a result three of the men were shot while the other three managed to escape.

Acting SHO of the Saeedabad police station, sub-inspector Arif Abbasi told The Express Tribune that the encounter took place in an area linked with the Lyari gangsters. He said that two hand grenades and three pistols were also recovered. The officer said that two of men were identified as Muhammad Ali and Irshad Ali. The police believe that the men were involved in the Lyari gang war. The bodies were taken to the Edhi morgue.

In an unrelated incident, two extortionists identified as Anwar Latif and Obaid Bashir were arrested in a raid conducted by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and the Sharae Noor Jahan police in Katti Pahari. The police said that the suspects were demanding Rs500,000 for a leather manufacturer in Korangi Industrial Area. The CPLC spokesperson said the arrests were made on a complaint filed by the manufacturer. It was later learnt that one of the men arrested used to work as a driver for the manufacturer. An FIR was registered and further investigation is underway.

Gunned down

Unidentified bodies of three men who had been reportedly abducted were found near Zero Point within the limits of the Surjani police station on Monday. SHO Bashir Waddo said that the initial investigation suggested the men had been kidnapped and then shot dead. The officer added that the deceased had torture marks on their bodies. The police also found six empty bullet shells at the crime scene. A case was registered and further investigation is being carried out.

In an unrelated incident, a 56-year-old man was shot dead within the limits of the Steel Town police station. The deceased was identified as Nabi Buksh Baloch. SHO Azhar Ali Iqbal said that the deceased used to work as a security guard and was killed in a robbery attempt. One of the three suspects behind the murder was arrested by the police. He was identified as Faisal.

A 48-year-old man identified as Mansoor Khan was shot dead inside a marble factory within the limits of Sukkhan police station.

The police said that he was shot by the factory's security guard by accidents while he was busy cleaning his gun. The security guard has been arrested.

A man identified as Siddiq Shina was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists in Orangi Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.