Law enforcers kill eight suspects in overnight raids

Six of the deceased were believed to be affiliated with Lyari-based gangs

KARACHI: At least eight suspects, including members of Lyari-based gangs and suspected target killers were killed during separate encounters with the paramilitary force and police on Thursday.

Four suspects were killed during two separate late-night encounters with the law enforcers in Mochko and Docks. The suspects were said to be members of a Lyari-based gang, wanted to the police in various cases of target killings, particularly of police officials. The suspects were also accused of being involved in sectarian target killings.

District City SSP Fida Hussain said that a large contingent of police, comprising at least 100 personnel, conducted a search operation in Mochko and Docks. The raid was conducted on the basis of information regarding the presence of criminals in the area. Both the localities were cordoned off for the duration of the operation.

SP Hussain said that the suspects opened fire at the police while they were cordoning off the Mochko area. In the retaliatory fire by the police, three of the suspects were killed. Their bodies were taken to Civil Hospital, Karachi, where they were later identified as Rasheed alias Raju alias Bengali, Wahid Dada and Nadir alias Jhengu.

SP Hussain added said that the suspect, Rasheed, was wanted by the police in nearly a dozen cases of target killings in Mauripur and Docks, while the others were wanted in at least 16 murder cases. He said that the gangsters were affiliated with the Uzair Baloch group.

Another suspect was killed when the same contingent of law enforcers conducted a search operation in Docks. The suspect killed was later identified as Abbas Baloch. Police officials said that the suspect was involved in various cases of target killings of policemen in Hub. SP Fida Hussain said that the suspect was a paid target-killer, who used to kill cops in exchange for money from banned militant outfits.

On the other hand, sources in the police said that the suspect was also a resident of Lyari and a member of the Uzair Baloch group, adding that he was involved in at least 18 murder cases, particularly those of police personnel.

In another encounter, an alleged member of a Lyari-based gang was killed by law enforcers at Mewa Shah Road in Lyari while at least five of his companions managed to flee under the cover of firing. The body was moved to Civil Hospital, Karachi where he was later identified as Abdullah alias Cricketer. SHO Ayaz Khan said that the suspect was affiliated with the Uzair Baloch group.

Separately, two more suspects were killed during an exchange of fire with the paramilitary force in New Karachi. Rangers officials said that the encounter took place when the troops conducted a raid at the site and the suspects opened fire at them. In the retaliatory fire by the Rangers personnel, the two suspects were killed. Though the suspects have yet to be identified, the Rangers officials claim they were involved in various cases of sectarian killings.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2015.