KARACHI: Four suspected bandits were killed in two alleged encounters in the city on Wednesday.

Early in the morning, the Sharea Faisal police acting on a tip-off intensified the deployment of its personnel in Gulshan-i-Jamal area off Rashid Minhas Road near Dalmia bus stop.

A senior official said that the police had already marked the area for a surge in criminal activities including house robberies and street crimes.

“During patrolling and consistent surveillance, our team came to know about the presence of at least three armed bandits in a house,” said SSP East Ghulam Azfar Mahesar. “As the bandits were inside, the police blocked all exits and cordoned off the area. The moment the bandits came out we warned them to surrender. Instead they took positions and fired at the police.”

An exchange of gunfire ensued and when the guns fell silent it emerged that the three bandits were killed, he added.

“We had been watching the area for the past few weeks since there was a surge in crimes,” said SSP Mahesar. “The encounter was the result of our consistent effort and we believe that it was the same gang which was actively involved in crimes in this area.

“We have collected samples from the bodies for a DNA test for want of their identification. Once they are identified, we would check their criminal record for further investigation,” he added.

Earlier in the wee hours of the day, a suspected bandit was killed in an encounter with the Ferozabad police off Shaheed-i-Millat Road.

An official said that Mustafa Hameed, 38, was riding a motorbike when armed bandits intercepted him and shot him in the leg when he resisted their attempt to rob him.

“A patrolling team in the area rushed to the scene after hearing gunshots,” he said. “As the police reached there they found two armed men trying to speed away on a motorbike. The police challenged them but they fired shots [at] the police. The police returned fire and killed one suspect. The other one managed to escape.”

‘MQM-L man’ held

Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, claimed to have arrested a suspected hitman associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) during an intelligence-based raid in the metropolis.

In a statement, the paramilitary force said that Ghufran Ahmed of the MQM-L was arrested in a joint raid conducted by the Rangers. It said that he was connected with the gang of Saleem ‘Belgium’.

The held suspect was involved in the recent incidents of targeted killings, including of workers of the MQM-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party, the statement added.

Man crushed to death by bowser

A man was crushed to death by a fast-moving water bowser in a New Karachi locality of the metropolis in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to police sources, 38-year-old man Sajid Siddiq was crushed to death after the driver of the bowser apparently lost control of the vehicle and hit the man who was sitting on a footpath. Two other people were also injured in the incident, the police added. —PPI

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2019