Encounters: Rangers gun down TTP target killer

Eight militants were also arrested during raids in the city.

KARACHI: The commander of a group of target killers affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was allegedly killed in an encounter with the Rangers in the city on Sunday.

Amjad alias Sajjad Langra was killed when Rangers personnel conducted a raid at a militant hideout in Ittehad Town, Baldia Town, after a tip-off. A Rangers spokesperson said that the raid was conducted on the basis of information received about the presence of a large cache of weapons and explosives prepared for militant activity. He added that the militants resorted to indiscriminate fire upon seeing the Rangers, leading to an exchange of fire in which one militant was killed and a law enforcer injured.



According to the Rangers spokesperson, the militant killed was the commander and explosives expert of the TTP-Swat's team of target killers. He further said that Amjad was involved in numerous high-profile militant activities in Karachi, adding that a large quantity of explosives, detonators, improvised explosive devices, grenades and weapons were also seized during the raid.

Separately, the Rangers also claimed to have apprehended eight militants during ongoing targeted raids in Baldia Town and Gulshan-e-Bunair. The arrested suspects belonged to TTP-Sultanabad, Karachi, and weapons and explosives were confiscated from them.

In another raid, Pakistan Bazaar police arrested two suspects, Wasim Bashir and Farrukh Wakeel, during a raid conducted in Orangi Town. The police also claimed to have seized toxic liquor from their possession. Cases have been registered against them and further investigation is underway.

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