HYDERABAD, June 11: Police failed to get hold of an alleged notorious drug-peddler and hardened criminal, Raheem Detho aslias Raheem Nando as he managed to escape after suffering injuries in an encounter with the police that resulted in killing of his alleged trusted accomplice, Rashid Qureshi in Jani Shah colony in the jurisdiction of Phulelli police station on Monday.

On the other hand, Mr.Justice Ameer Hani Muslim of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, directed the DPO of Hyderabad to produce Raheem Detho alive before the court on Tuesday on an application moved by Detho's counsel.

The deceased was resident of Mukkhi House and was father of four. Police alleged that he was involved in numerous criminal cases, including armed robberies with Raheem Nando, who had been evading arrest since long.

The encounter began at around 2 pm and continued for an hour. Police cordoned the entire area to ensure arrest of Raheem Detho and his gang members. Police believed that around five to 10 ‘criminals’ were present in the area.

A heavy contingent of police laid a siege to Jani Shah Mohallah, a densely populated area and its vicinity. The entire area reverberated with sound of gunfire after police were fired upon from under-construction building of Raheem Detho. Police returned the fire, killing Rashid Qureshi.

Despite several hours’ efforts police couldn't trace him in the locality and, on the contrary, they had to face a hostile crowd of residents, including women, who raised slogans in favour of Raheem Detho.

Police resorted to heavy aerial firing to disperse the mob. “They (police) have themselves made Raheem a criminal and now they want to kill him. Raheem helps poor people of the area”, shouted an angry protester.

Mir Haider Ali Talpur, a former provincial adviser, reached the area from Tando Fazal after he was approached by Detho's wife, requesting his intervention.

He spoke to DPO of Hyderabad and assured the police of handing over Raheem to them, if he is present in the locality.

He also made the police to commit that they wouldn't resort to firing to avoid further loss of life. “I think that probably Raheem has escaped from the area”, Talpur told this correspondent.

According to Haider, Detho's wife Shaista, despite being pregnant, searched almost every house of the locality but couldn’t find him. She herself was taken to a hospital after feeling severe pain due to stress.

According to SP Investigations, Detho is involved in no less than 55 major offences including a Rs3 million robbery of prize bonds, murder case of cousin of sub-inspector Sabir Gaddi and others.

“Raheem Detho told me three days back that since his friend Ghulam Hyder Nondani has been arrested he is also willing to surrender and such message was communicated to DPO Hyderabad", said Sher Baz Khoso advocate.

He said DPO had also showed his willingness to surrender in presence of media. However, suddenly the situation changed and police decided to kill him in encounter. He filed an application before Mr.Justice Ameer Hani Muslim of Sindh High Court Hyderabad who directed the DPO to produce Detho before the court alive on Tuesday.

The counsel said that this order had been communicated to DPO by Additional Registrar of the circuit bench. It was also confirmed by the DPO that he had been informally communicated high court's order.

The elder brother of Rashid Qureshi, Mohammad Ramzan, said that his brother had been running a light truck of Raheem Detho to transport bangles.

He said the police killed his brother in a managed encounter.