On a manhunt: Law enforcers arrest over 100 suspects but fail to find attackers

The surge in arrests is believed to be a reaction to the killing of four Rangers personnel on Friday

KARACHI:

Following in the Rangers' footsteps, the Karachi police also seems to have jolted into action and started searching for those responsible for the deadly attack on the paramilitary soldiers in the outskirts of the metropolis. The Baldia Town police spent a whole night searching and arresting suspects believed to be involved in the attack. They claimed to have detained nearly 70 suspects but unfortunately none of them were found to be remotely involved in the incident.

On the other hand, Rangers personnel continued their operations against criminals and terrorist mafias in the city on the second consecutive day. They apprehended 30 more suspects, including alleged terrorists and target killers, believed to be affiliated with different banned outfits.



With these arrests, the total of suspects detained by the Rangers and police in just two days has climbed to 166. Those arrested are said to be terrorists affiliated with banned outfits, political workers, target killers and extortionists. The surge in arrests has come in the wake of the deadly attack on Rangers personnel on Friday. They have, however, been unable to arrest the attackers yet.

Deadly attack

Four paramilitary soldiers were killed when gunmen opened fire on them while they were on security duty outside a mosque during Friday prayers in the Ittehad Town area of Baldia Town.

On the night between Saturday and Sunday, the Baldia Town police launched a surprise door-to-door operation and apprehended nearly 70 suspects. The entire locality was cordoned off during the operation that lasted around four hours, with no one being allowed to enter or leave the area.

Police commandos also accompanied the Baldia Police force in the search operation. The suspects were later shifted to different police stations of Baldia Town. Officials claimed that weapons were seized from the possession of some of the suspects.

Baldia Town SP Aijaz Hashmi said that the operation was conducted on a tip-off regarding the presence of criminals involved in various crimes, particularly in the attack on the Rangers personnel. The police, however, failed to find any suspect who was directly or indirectly involved in the attack. "Those who are found to be uninvolved in any criminal activity will be released," he said.

In the meantime, the Rangers conducted raids in at least 13 different localities of the metropolis, including Ittehad Town, al-Falah, Safoora, Surjani, Martin Quarters, Ramswami, Dhobi Ghat, P&T Colony, Lyari, Macchar Colony, Bilal Colony, Pirabad and Frontier Colony. The Rangers spokesperson said that half of the 30 suspects arrested were affiliated with proscribed groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, while the remaining were involved in various crimes, including target killings.

Earlier on Saturday, the Rangers had arrested nearly 66 suspects and also killed four suspected militants in separate encounters and raids in different parts of the city. The arrested suspects included members of a political party and militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd,  2015.