KARACHI: A young man was gunned down by Rangers on Wednesday evening in an alleged ‘encounter’ that appeared to be killing from firing at point-blank range in a footage released hours after the incident.

A spokesman for the Sindh Rangers said the 25-year-old Sarfaraz Shah was killed after an encounter with Rangers personnel deployed outside the Benazir Shaheed Park in the city’s Boat Basin area after he was ‘caught red-handed’ while snatching cash and valuables from visitors.

“A man approached the Rangers personnel deputed outside Benazir Shaheed Park with a complaint against a young bandit inside the park,” said the spokesman for the Sindh Rangers. “The Rangers officials went inside the park and spotted the youngster who fired at them. The return fire from the Rangers killed the bandit.”

The Sindh Rangers spokesman, however, did not give any details about arms and valuables recovered from the alleged bandit.

But, hours after the incident, family members, neighbours and relatives demonstrated outside the Chief Minister’s House carrying the body of Sarfaraz. They accused the Rangers of faking the encounter and called for registration of an FIR against the officials involved in the firing.

Their allegation appeared to be correct when footages aired on news channels showed the unarmed youngster had been shot from a very close range by one of six Rangers personnel gathered around him. The footages showed Sarfaraz, younger brother of a local journalist, pleading for mercy.

After the video footages broadcast by the news channels, the Sindh Rangers spokesman said an inquiry had been ordered.