Law enforcement: Suspected Lyari gangster killed

Police detained 40 suspects during raids in different parts of the city

KARACHI: A suspected commander of a Lyari-based gang was killed during an alleged encounter with the police in Lyari on Saturday.

The encounter took place when the police officials conducted a raid at the gangsters' hideout in the Eidu Lane locality of Lyari's Baghdadi area. Police officials said that they faced massive resistance from the gangsters and were forced to retaliate, during which a commander was killed.Officials said that the commander was later identified as Irfan alias Billa, while at least two of his comrades managed to escape under the cover of fire.

The police said that the deceased gangster had been operating Ghaffar Zikri's gang for the last month in Zikri's absence while he is wanted by the police in several cases. Weapons were also seized from his possession and further investigation is underway.

Separately, over 40 suspects were detained during various targeted raids and operations in parts of the city.

The raids and operations were carried out by police in different localities of the city including Model Colony, Saudabad and Nazimabad, in which over 40 suspects were detained. They were shifted to undisclosed locations for further questioning. Police officials also claim to have recovered weapons from the possession of some suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.