Police action: Taliban offices in Manghopir demolished

25 suspected militants were arrested during raids at the offices

KARACHI: The arrests and killing of militants during raids at their hideouts has become a routine matter in Karachi, but for the first time law enforcers have demolished 'offices' being used by the Taliban.

Various localities of the city, including Manghopir, Sultanabad, Kunwari Colony, Gulshan-e-Bunair, Future Colony, Sohrab Goth and Ittehad Town, remained under the influence of militant outfits, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan for the past few years. They established their offices to operate gangs, carry out terrorist activities and generate funds.

Read: Five dead as Rangers carry out patrol in Manghopir

On Thursday, a large contingent of law enforcers launched a door-to-door operation to search for militants in Manghopir. The police faced resistance from the militants during a search operation in parts of Manghopir, including Mir Muhammad Goth and Sultanabad.

The police officials said that they arrested nearly 25 militants, while some of their companions managed to escape under the cover of fire.

The police raided two offices of the Taliban in the Mir Muhammad Goth and Sultanabad areas of Manghopir and later demolished them. Manghopir SHO Ghulam Hussain Korai said that the police razed the offices completely. "The offices were closed but we have had information that the militants are trying to reopen them," said Korai. "We have also deployed jawans here to avoid reconstruction of the office."

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.