KARACHI: Police authorities on Wednesday suspended Korangi Industrial Area SHO after hours-long protest over killing of a citizen during an anti-encroachment drive in Korangi on Tuesday, officials said.

East-DIG Azfar Mahesar said a man was killed during the anti-encroachment operation when a bullet from an unknown direction hit him. Mr Mahesar added that he had ordered Korangi SSP to conduct an inquiry into the incident while SHO concerned had been suspended.

The East Zone police chief said that the anti-encroachment operation was ordered by the Sindh High Court as the land belonged to the KDA, whose director was leading the operation.

Carrying the coffin of the deceased, the residents blocked the main road at Vita Chowrangi at around 10pm on Tuesday, which continued till 1:30am on Wednesday, according to a traffic police spokesperson.

A police official, who wished not to be named, claimed that the man was killed by firing of the area residents as they resisted the operation and pelted stones on the anti-encroachment team. However, the residents alleged that the victim was gunned down in firing carried out by the police.

He said the operation was launched in Panhwar Goth near Mehran Town on Tuesday. The land-grabbers, some of whom were armed, created a law and order situation there and allegedly made Korangi SHO Amin Solangi hostage and damaged his official vehicle, he said, adding that the SHO was rescued by other policemen.

Amid this, a resident, identified as Mehboob Malah, was shot at and wounded by a bullet. The official said the policemen possessed water cannons and tear gas shells only and they believed that the citizen was shot dead by the firing carried out by alleged land-grabbers.

Korangi SSP Hasan Sardar Niazi held talks with the protestors, assuring them that justice would be provided to them. The SSP also suspended SHO Ubaidullah Khan over demands of the protestors. They also demanded registration of the murder case against the policemen and the KDA officials but so far, the police had not registered the case, said the officer.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024