KARACHI, May 12: Police killed 16 alleged bandits, arrested 398 others and seven policemen were also killed in what police claimed encounters from January to April this year in Karachi.

According to statistics issued by the city police chief, a total of 57 alleged police encounters took place from January to April this year in which 16 alleged bandits had been killed.

The figures show that seven policemen have also been killed in the line of duty and nine others injured. However, the statistics did not give the number of suspects injured in what police claimed encounters.

Police arrested 398 alleged criminals. They also claimed the arrest of 138 proclaimed offenders, 732 absconding suspects and two others. Police claimed that 29 gangs of criminals were busted in the four months.

Police showed the recovery of 954 illegal weapons from the possession of suspects.