KARACHI: A suspected militant linked to the Islamic State group (IS) and formerly associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed when he jumped off the roof of a building where he was hiding during a joint raid conducted by the Pakistan Rangers Sindh and police in Gulshan-i-Maymar. His four accomplices were arrested.

The paramilitary force’s spokesperson claimed on Friday that the arrested persons were involved in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and other heinous crimes.

They were identified as Ahmed Nawaz, Mohammed Aziz, Mohammed Zafran and Mohammed Noor.

Suspect was involved in kidnappings for ransom

“The killed militant, Musharraf Mehsud alias Saifullah, was a wanted terrorist,” claimed the Rangers official.

Acting on a tip-off, the paramilitary force along with personnel of the police’s Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) carried out an action in Salfia Colony at Maymar off the Superhighway where the militants had taken refuge in a two-storey building.

On noticing the law enforcers, Musharraf tried to hide himself on the roof of the building. When the Rangers personnel searched the premises, the suspect in order to avoid arrest jumped off the roof.

He sustained critical injuries and was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds, said the spokesperson.

The Rangers official claimed that the killed militant was also involved in the kidnapping of retired army Major Naukhaiz in 2016.

The Rangers also claimed to have seized three kilogrammes of explosives, two hand grenades, one pistol along with two magazines and 25 rounds from his possession.

The held suspects and the arms and ammunition were handed over to the police while the militant’s body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

Additional police surgeon Dr Saleem Shaikh told Dawn that the deceased died of head injuries. He added that they were informed by the law enforcers that he jumped off the fourth floor of a building during a raid.

AVCC SSP Irfan Bahadur, whose team took part in the operation, said Musharraf had once been arrested by the slain CID SSP Chaudhry Aslam, however, he was released on bail and was declared an absconder by a court.

“He was also involved in killing industrialists and members of the Shia Ismaili community,” Mr Bahadur added.

He pointed out that Musharraf had allegedly kidnapped Ali Raza and Ahmed from the New Karachi Industrial Area, and industrialist Raheel and Shams, a member of Shia Ismaili community, from other areas.

“He also kidnapped retired Major Naukhaiz from Karachi and took him to Balochistan. He has recently tried to kidnap a citizen named Arshad. All the kidnapped victims were released after payment of ransom,” the SSP said.

The senior officer revealed that Musharraf had earlier been affiliated with the TTP but he later joined the militant Islamic State group.

“He used to kidnap the people from Karachi and took them to Balochistan where he handed them to the IS,” he further said.

Five ‘gangsters’ held

The Kalakot police on Friday claimed to have arrested five suspected gangsters in Lyari after an ‘encounter’.

The held suspects belonged to Baba Ladla gang, claimed City SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro.

Kalakot SHO Aurangzeb Khattak said the police had received “intelligence reports” that the gangsters were regrouping in the area, therefore, they along with the Rangers conducted a raid in Afshani Gali and arrested them.

“The held suspects have also been arrested in the past and have been released on bail,” he said.

They were identified as Aurangzeb alias Gabbar, Kamran alias Kamoon, Zohaib, Fida and Sher Mohammed alias Sheru Dada.

The police claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018