Encounters and arrests: ‘Gang member’ killed, five held by law enforcement agencies

The deceased was a gang member and was wanted for seven murders.

KARACHI:

An alleged member of a Lyari gang, believed to be involved in over half a dozen cases of murders, was killed during an encounter with the Rangers in Lyari while five suspects allegedly involved in street crimes and burglaries were also arrested during separate encounters on Saturday.

According to their spokesperson, the Rangers conducted a targeted raid at a gang hideout in Lyari’s Afshani Gali. In an attempt to escape, the gang members resorted to indiscriminate firing. However, during the exchange of fire, a gangster was killed and his body was shifted to Civil hospital, where he was identified as Umar aka Saddam aka Bablu. The Rangers spokesperson claimed that the deceased was associated with the Jhengu group, adding that besides being allegedly involved in other crimes, the accused was also involved in at least seven murder cases.

Separately, two suspects allegedly involved in various cases of street crimes were arrested after they were injured in an exchange of fire with the police in Sher Shah.

Police officials said that the encounter took place when the police tried to intercept them during snap-checking.

The arrested were identified as Shahid and Sher Muhammad. Two pistols, a stolen motorcycle and a number of stolen cell phones were also recovered from their possession.

Similarly, three more suspects, allegedly involved in various cases of burglaries, were arrested after an exchange of fire with the police in the Brigade area. The suspects were identified as Shakir Hussain, Kaleem and Imtiaz. Weapons were also recovered from their possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2014.