KARACHI: Police on Tuesday claimed to have killed a suspected street criminal, who had established a ‘reign of terror’ in Korangi, in an encounter.

Officials said that the suspect, Sohail alias Abu Huraira, had remained associated with a sectarian party in the past and was arrested several times and sent to jail.

Korangi SSP Hassan Sardar told a press conference at his office that the encounter took place between the police and the suspects at Khadi Stop in the limits of Awami Colony police and after an exchange of gunfire, Abu Huraira was gunned down while his accomplice managed to flee.

The police claimed to have recovered one pistol, mobile phones and motorcycle from his custody.

Police say suspect was previously associated with sectarian outfit

“The killed suspect was a hardened criminal who was a ringleader of a most wanted and dangerous group,” said the SSP, adding that the suspect was a son of a religious scholar.

Abu Huraira along with his accomplices had committed a robbery at a shop in Korangi’s Gulshan Market recently, where he had shot and wounded the shop owner and his son and a woman customer over resistance. The wounded customer, Saima, had died during treatment at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. He was also involved in wounding a traffic police officer.

“Abu Huraira used to shoot citizens over minor resistance during mobile snatching attempts,” said the SSP, adding “he was operating a gang in Karachi and the police were searching for this most wanted criminal.”

The SSP said there were 13 cases registered against the killed suspect at different police stations pertaining to terrorism, murders, robberies, using explosive material and attacks on police.

Awami Colony SHO Adnan Shah Bukhari told Dawn that Abu Huraira had remained affiliated with an ethnic party and a sectarian group in the past and was arrested several times and sent to the jail. “He had become a symbol of terror,” he added.

“Abu Huraira was a ring-leader of a gang comprising over 30 ‘Burmi-Bengalis,” added the SHO.

Some days ago, another member of the same gang identified as Adil alias Puncture was arrested in wounded condition after an ‘encounter’ in Korangi-6.

The SSP Mr. Sardar in his press conference said the police also arrested a suspect, Sher Ali with help of technology who shot dead an employee of a factory, Fayaz Meo and injured another person, Fawad near Vita Chowrangi recently. The snatched cell phone of the victim was also recovered from his custody. The SSP said the same suspect Sher Ali had also shot dead a security guard, Khadim Husain during robbery at Allah Wala Town of Korangi some days ago.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2024