Crime roundup: Alleged kidnapper killed, five others arrested

Before dying, the kidnapper confessed to killing an abductee.

KARACHI: A suspected kidnapper was killed while five other suspects were taken into custody during targeted raids in different parts of the metropolis on Saturday.

An alleged kidnapper was killed during an alleged encounter with the Rangers in New Karachi. The Rangers conducted a raid early Saturday morning at the hideout of the kidnappers. According to a Rangers spokesperson, the kidnappers resorted to indiscriminate fire upon seeing the Rangers. The Rangers fired back and arrested the kidnapper, Amir, who was injured and died during treatment.

The spokesperson claimed that, during the treatment, Amir confessed to killing an abductee, Naeem, who was kidnapped on September 1. It was revealed that the victim had been killed soon after he was kidnapped; however, the kidnapper kept demanding ransom from the family for the victim's release.

Naeem's family had once paid Rs3 million. The case was initially reported at the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee and then the complainants registered a complaint with the Rangers Special Task Force on December 26. The spokesperson said that, due to technical and ground surveillance, they succeeded in the operation.

Separately, three suspects were arrested during the on-going targeted raids in different areas, including Landhi and Sikandar Goth. According to a Rangers spokesperson, the suspects arrested included target killers and weapons were also recovered from their possession.

In another raid, two alleged militants were apprehended during targeted raids by law enforcement agencies in Ittehad Town and Mominabad. Their identities were not disclosed. However, they were said to be affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. They were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2015.