Encounter: SSP shot at, retaliatory fire kills two attackers

Eight-year-old boy also hit by hand grenade in same attack

KARACHI: Two armed men attacked a police convoy in Lyari on Wednesday but the retaliatory fire killed the two attackers.

District City SSP Aftab Nizamani and his team were patrolling in the Jhat Pat Market area following complaints of extortion by traders when two men on a motorcycle opened fire at Nizamani's vehicle, said Kalakot SHO Ayaz Khan.

One of the bullets hit the SSP's vehicle but no one was injured. The police started chasing the attackers, one of whom threw a hand grenade at the law enforcers. The grenade attack injured an eight-year-old boy who was passing by. The boy was rushed to Civil hospital.

The police continued the chase until another exchange of fire that killed the two attackers, who have yet to be identified. According to SHO Khan, the Jhat Pat Market traders had complained that members of the Baba Ladla group of Lyari gangsters were harassing them to pay extortion. The law enforcers were patrolling in the area when they came under attack.

Rangers raid in Lyari

Earlier, four suspected members of a Lyari gang were killed in an exchange of fire with the paramilitary troops in the Kalakot area on Wednesday. According to Rangers officials, the encounter took place when their troops conducted a targeted raid at the gangsters' hideout. The gangsters opened fire at the Rangers and tried to flee.

The Rangers troops retaliated and killed four gangsters while a few of their comrades managed to flee.  The suspects, later identified as Danish Majeed, Arshad Mehmood, Moosa Umar and Kamran alias Naveed, belonged to the Baba Ladla group of Lyari gangsters. They were wanted to the police in various cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.