KARACHI: Law enforcers on Saturday claimed to have arrested seven suspected militants linked with the banned Islamic State group and Sindh Revolutionary Army in separate actions.

Pakistan Rangers Sindh and police conducted an intelligence-based action in Ittehad Town and arrested three suspects who were linked with IS, said a spokesperson.

The held militants were identified as Noor Mohammed alias Abu Darda, Hayatullah and Khan Bahadur alias Qari Basit.

The Rangers claimed to have seized arms, ammunition and explosive material from their custody. “The held suspects were involved in bomb and cracker attacks against Pakistan forces.”

The spokesperson said they have received intelligence that the banned TTP and IS were planning a major terror act in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi.

Four SRA suspects held in separate action

“Arrested suspects had recently come to Karachi from Afghanistan”, it was stated. During initial probe, the militants “confessed” to their involvement in different acts of terrorism.

They had joined TTP (Maulvi Faqir Mohammed group) in 2008. Subsequently, they joined IS in 2014 and carried out several terror acts in Pakistan.

Before joining IS, they carried out several attacks on Pakistan army and FC in Kharkay Bagh, Bajaur and Inayat Qila Bazaar in which “several jawans were martyred and injured,” according to the Rangers spokesperson.

They also attacked the Pakistan army and FC in Chaugam in 2012, in which several jawans were martyred and wounded.

The held suspects were handed over to police for legal action.

Four ‘SRA militants’ held

Police’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) on Saturday claimed to have arrested four suspects involved in terrorism and other crimes.

The SIU arrested one suspect, Gulzar Ali in an injured condition in Bilal Colony of New Karachi and on information provided by him, three more suspects namely Ghulam Mohammed, Habibullah and Fayaz Khan were arrested, said SIU SSP Capt Haider Raza.

The senior officer said “reportedly all four arrested suspects are affiliated with Sindh Revolutionary Army (SRA).”

They were “involved in many heinous crimes and also members of a chain of more than 20 such hardened criminals”.

The officer revealed that one held suspect, Habibullah, was also involved in an encounter in Hyderabad in 2019.

Man shot dead by robbers

A man was shot dead by suspected robbers over resistance on Superhighway on Saturday, according to Sohrab Goth police.

They added that the man in his mid-20s was riding a motorbike when he was shot and killed by the robbers for resisting robbery near Jamali Bridge. He died on the spot. The body was shifted to Edhi morgue for identification after autopsy conducted at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Man shot dead over property dispute

A man was gunned down while another hurt in Qayyumabad on Saturday.

Defence SHO Azam Rajpar said that a clash erupted between relatives over some property. As a result, Talha Mohammed, 60, was shot and killed while Naeem Mohammed, 45, was injured. The dead and injured were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Youth gunned down

A 22-year-old man was gunned down in Shah Latif Town, according to police.

They added that Rahim Dil was shot at and hurt critically in Marvi Goth. He was taken to the JPMC where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The victim suffered bullet wounds in his chest and back. The police said he was killed over some personal enmity.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2021