Karachi: In continuing armed encounters between law enforcement agencies and criminals, at least one captive lost his life while four other alleged criminals were killed in shoot-outs on Sunday, officials said.
A spokesman of paramilitary Rangers said they conducted an intelligence-driven targeted raid in Liaqatabad area in central Karachi. The tip-off suggested the presence of criminals involved in short term kidnapping cases.
He further said the operation was launched on the information that the Rangers gathered from Zairat Gul, a member of the kidnappers gang who was already arrested.
As soon as the raid was executed, the spokesman said the kidnappers started firing on the raiding team. In a bid to take advantage of the distraction of the Rangers, who were engaged in a shoot-out, Gul tried to escape but was caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries and later died when he was being evacuated.
The spokesman said Rangers continued firing and after a brief exchange of fire, one was killed while another of his accomplices managed to escape. The criminal was later identified as Amir and was the member of the gang, which was often engaged in short-term kidnappings for ransom.
Elsewhere, early Sunday, police encountered members of Lyari Gang killing at least three of them.
Senior superintendent of police Fida Hussain told media that the encounter took place at Jatoi Para in the jurisdiction of Baghdadi police station. The alleged gangsters were identified as Abdul Rehman alias Lamba also known as Gainda; Subhan alias Grenade and Ali Shan alias Shan.
The police said that the trio was involved in murders of over 30 men; extortion and kidnapping for ransom. The police recovered a large amount of ammunition.
Police also claimed to have foiled terrorists near Hala Naka, in Hyderabad, some 170 kilometres north of Karachi. Police officer Naeem Shaikh said that police intercepted an auto rickshaw and recovered some 60kg of explosive.
Shaikh said that on an intelligence tip-off the rickshaw was intercepted and 1300 detonators, besides the explosives were also recovered. Three suspects were also arrested who belonged to Shangla area of Swat in northern Pakistan. The suspects disclosed they were plotting attacks some targets.
