Investigations: Four of nine slain militants identified by families

The alleged militants, affiliated with the TTP and al-Qaeda, were shot dead in an encounter a day earlier.

KARACHI:

Four of the nine alleged militants killed during an encounter with the police, a day earlier, were identified on Monday.

The nine alleged militants, believed to be associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and al-Qaeda, were killed in a shoot-out with police in Mian Khan Goth near National Highway. The raid was conducted on a tip-off regarding the presence of the militants at a hideout. It was claimed that the suspects were plotting to carry out terror activities in the month of Muharram. One of the most wanted suspects, TTP Sindh chapter chief Irshadullah, however, managed to escape under the cover of firing.

The bodies of the nine killed militants were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth where the heirs of at least four have identified them. They were identified as Baitullah, Saifullah, Muhammad Ibrahim and Arif Ali. The remaining have yet to be identified.



Investigation officer inspector Wasey Jhokio told The Express Tribune that all four victims who have been identified were residents of Sohrab Goth. The search for the families of the remaining five was under way. An FIR No 277/14 under Sections 353 and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) has been registered while further investigation was under way.

Targeted raids

Meanwhile, Rangers claim to have apprehended 14 suspects including members of a militant outfit and alleged target killers in separate raids across the city.

Six suspects were taken into custody during a targeted raid in Madina Colony and Islamia Colony. Rangers spokesperson said that the arrested suspects were affiliated with a banned outfit and weapons and narcotics were also seized from their possession. The arrested suspects were later shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning.

Separately, six more suspects were apprehended by Rangers during targeted raids at Shah Faisal Colony and Shoe Market. The Rangers spokesperson said that one of the arrested suspects was also a target killer.

In yet another raid conducted by the Rangers, two alleged criminals affiliated with a banned outfit were arrested from Frontier Colony. The spokesperson added that 37 weapons of different calibre were seized from their possession. The suspects were shifted to undisclosed location for further questioning.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2014.