Five 'gang members' killed; six more suspects held

KARACHI:

Five suspected gang members, allegedly involved in target killing, extortion and kidnappings, were killed by the Rangers and the police in two raids in Lyari, while half a dozen more suspects were arrested in separate raids in the city on Friday and Thursday night.

The Rangers claimed to have killed four Lyari gang members in an encounter in Lyari. The Rangers personnel conducted a raid on a tip-off at a hideout in Gul Muhammad Lane. According to a Rangers spokesperson, the suspects, allegedly associated with the Baba Ladla group, were killed in a fierce exchange of fire after they started shooting at the law enforcers in an attempt to escape.

Two of those killed were identified as Daniyal alias Burger and Murtaza, while the other two have yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, another suspected gang member was killed during an exchange of fire with the police in Kalakot late on Thursday night.

The encounter occurred when the police conducted a raid at a gang hideout. SSP Sheeraz Nazeer said that the slain suspect, identified as Fayyaz Punjabi, was affiliated with the Uzair Jan Baloch group.

In another raid, Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claimed to have arrested a gang member during a targeted raid in Mochko, Baldia Town.

The arrested suspect was identified as Abdul Raheem alias Gujjar alias Mirch Jatoi.

SIU chief Farooq Awan said that the accused was an extortionist who had recently attacked a restaurant in Baldia Town after the owner refused to pay him extortion money.

Similarly, an alleged member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was arrested in an injured condition after an encounter with law enforcement agencies in Ayub Goth. He was later identified as Bostan Bakht.

Separately, four drug peddlers were arrested in a targeted raid conducted by the Rangers at Natha Khan Goth.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2014.