Encounters and arrests: Two gang members shot dead

Four others arrested in targeted raids across the city.

KARACHI: Two alleged gang members from Lyari were shot dead while over half a dozen suspects, including gangsters, were apprehended during targeted raids on different parts of the city on Sunday.

The two gang members were killed in an alleged encounter with the Rangers in Lyari. The encounter took place when the Rangers conducted a raid at the gang's hideout in Rangiwara, Lyari. The Rangers initially faced resistance from the gang members but started retaliating with full force. According to the Rangers spokesperson, two of the gang members were killed in an exchange of fire. The bodies were taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi where they were identified as Aziz alias Chawwani and Zakir alias David. The Rangers claimed that the men were affiliated with the Mullah Nisar group which works with the Uzair Jan Baloch group in Lyari. They added that the deceased were involved in several target killings, extortion and kidnapping cases. One of their accomplices was also arrested.

Four other alleged gang members were arrested in raids conducted in Musharraf Colony. The Rangers spokesperson said that the arrested men belonged to gangs in Lyari and were involved in several criminal cases.

A gang member was also arrested during a raid in Macchar Colony, Mauripur after an exchange of fire. The police said that Shah Alam was involved in many criminal cases.

Two suspects identified as Imran and Zulfiqar were arrested by the Surjani police. The police officials said that the accused were involved in target killings and seized weapons from their possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2014.