Operation in swing: Four men gunned down in encounters

Two suspects killed during an exchange of fire with the police in Soldier Bazaar.

KARACHI: At least four men allegedly involved in criminal cases were killed by the police in separate encounters in different parts of the city on Monday.

In Orangi Town, a man was shot dead while his accomplice was arrested in an injured condition in Ali Nagar. The incident took place within the limits of the Pakistan Bazaar police station. According to sources, a group of at least six men barged into the house of a man identified as Tahir on Sunday night. They tried to rob the house but were unsuccessful as the occupants made a lot of noise. The robbers were trying to escape when neighbours got out to see what was happening. They managed to catch two of the robbers and started beating them. They were handed over to the police later. The police took the two men to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they were identified as Rasheed Ahmed and Hussain. Ahmed succumbed to his injuries.

The police, however, claim that Ahmed was killed during an exchange of fire with them and they seized weapons from the suspects.

In an unrelated incident, two suspects were killed during an encounter with the police in Soldier Bazaar. The police said that the encounter took place when two men on a motorcycle were mugging people at gunpoint. Policemen who were on routine patrol were doing their rounds when the suspects opened fire at them and tried to flee. The police chased them and managed to kill them after an exchange of fire. They claim to have recovered weapons, a motorcycle, ladies hangbags and cell phones from them. The deceased have yet to be identified.

Separately, one suspect was killed while six of his companions managed to escape during an alleged encounter with the police near Zero Point, Northern Bypass within the jurisdiction of the Surjani police station.

SHO Bashir Waddo said that the encounter took place when police personnel were doing routine snap checks and tried to intercept a few suspects. Despite stopping their vehicle, the suspects tried to flee and resorted to firing at the police. There was an exchange of fire in which one of the men died. He was identified as Noor Ahmed Jamali. The body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The SHO claimed that the accused was involved in kidnapping for ransom cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2014.