Cleaning up: Four alleged militants, three others killed in encounters

Four suspected criminals also arrested by the police.

KARACHI:

At least four suspected militants and an alleged extortionist were among seven suspects killed in separate police encounters on Wednesday. The police also claimed to have arrested four suspected criminals during the raids.

The four militants, identified as Zakirullah, Shah Faisal and Ismail while the remaining one has yet to be identified, were the latest target in a series of encounters between the police and militants in the outskirts of the city in recent days. The encounter occurred at Shadi Khan Goth, near Malir Cantt, within the limits of Gadap City police station.

“The SHO had received a tip off about the presence of militants in the area,” District Malir SSP Rao Anwar told The Express Tribune. “As soon as the SHO reached the site, he faced massive resistance from the militants.” The official immediately called for backup and a large contingent of police personnel were dispatched to the area to fight the militants.

“They were shooting at us from their hideouts,” SHO Khan Nawaz told The Express Tribune. “We managed to kill four of them after a short period of fighting,” he said, adding that the police seized a large number of weapons from their possession.

Their bodies were taken to the Edhi morgue at Sohrab Goth for identification after medico-legal formalities were completed at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Police officials said that their DNA samples would be taken for identification.

Extortionist killed

Separately, an alleged extortionist, affiliated with the Lyari gang war, was killed during an encounter with the police in New Karachi. The deceased was later identified as Muhammad Ali alias Kuppi. SHO Chaudhry Afzal said that Kuppi was travelling in a rickshaw when the police tried to intercept him. He, however, tried to flee under the cover of firing. During the subsequent exchange of fire, Kuppi sustained several bullet wounds. He was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police officials said that the deceased was involved in more than 14 criminal cases.

Another alleged robber was killed near New Sabzi Mandi on Super Highway. Police officials said that at least three armed men on two motorcycles tried to intercept a jeep on Janjar Road. They opened fire when the jeep driver did not stop the car. The driver, 30-year-old Najeebullah, was wounded in the assault. Reacting on information, police officials who were patrolling the area reached the site and managed to kill one of the robbers. The robber’s body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy and later shifted to Edhi morgue, Sohrab Goth, for identification. Police officials claim to have seized weapons and a motorcycle from his possession. Meanwhile, his companions managed to escape under the cover of firing.

In another encounter, Gabol Town police killed a bandit in Paposh Nagar, Nazimabad. Police had arrested Shahroz Ishaq during routine snap checking from Gabol Town but his accomplice, Ali alias Irani, managed to flee. Ishaq confessed to have robbed airport cabs with Ali. Police raided Ali’s house located in Paposh Nagar, from where Ali tried to flee again. During the exchange of fire, Ali was wounded and taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

An alleged robber, identified as Murad Ali, son of Ishaq, was wounded and arrested after an exchange of fire with the police at Badar Commercial, within the limits of Darakshan police station. Police officials said that the arrested suspect’s companion managed to escape.

Lyari police claim to have arrested Ghaffar Punjabi, a key member of the Baba Ladla gang. He was arrested in an injured condition while four of his companions managed to escape under the cover of firing. Police officials said that Punjabi was wanted by the police in a number of criminal cases.

Aziz Bhatti police claim to have arrested two suspects during a raid on main University Road. The suspects were identified as Haris and Abdul Wahab and were allegedly involved in a number of cases of street crime.

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