Shoot-out: Alleged kidnapper killed in encounter

Suspect was allegedly involved in several high-profile kidnappings

HYDERABAD: A suspected kidnapper, Mohammad Ali Hothipoto, who was allegedly involved in several high-profile kidnappings, was shot dead in the outskirts of Hyderabad early on Wednesday.

The slain suspect carried Rs1 million as head money and was nominated in at least 31 FIRs in several districts, according to the police.

The CIA police incharge, Aslam Langha, said Hyderabad police had been informed that Hothipoto had left the Kashmore district, where the police say he was hiding for several months and was travelling towards Hyderabad. Around 5am on Wednesday, a white Toyota Corolla rushed through a snap-checking spot near Chang Maur within the limits of Hatri police station. Langha said they cornered the vehicle after a brief chase, but the four suspects in the car opened fired at the police, which, he claimed, continued for 30 minutes.

Hothipoto sustained bullet wounds in the exchange of fire and later died at Civil hospital, but his three accomplices, identified as Iqbal Brohi, Mitho Machi and Mastu Ghalo, escaped.

He was allegedly involved in the kidnappings of the sons of special assistant to the chief minister Suhrab Khan Mari, Sindh High Court Bar Association Hyderabad's former president advocate Nisar Durrani and Dr Shamsuddin Shaikh, dean of the faculty of medicine at Peoples Medical College Nawabshah. The National Highway Authority's official Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh was also allegedly kidnapped by him.

Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali, announced a reward of Rs500,000 for Hothipoto's three accomplices.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2015.