18 April 2004	Sunday	27 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 17: Four people were gunned down by unidentified men at a shanty town off Super Highway in Sohrab Goth police limits on Saturday.

Police said that some people were sitting at a shop near Rehman Clinic in the settlement adjacent to Gulshan-i-Maymar off Super Highway. Witnesses told the police that five armed men appeared there and sprayed the people sitting at the shop with bullets.

Five people suffered bullet wounds and four of them died on the spot. The deceased were identified as Abdus Sattar, Haji Nizamuddin, Nazar Mohammad and Khan Mohammad. The bodies were later sent for autopsy to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Amanullah, who was wounded in the incident, was shifted to a local hospital.

Police claimed that a taxi, parked nearby, was also damaged in the firing incident.

According to the police, all those killed were Afghan nationals and the assailants were also Afghan. The killings appeared to be an outcome of a lingering dispute between the two groups as both were drug pushers and had a conflict over the control of the area.

However, sources said that all the five men were travelling in a taxi when they came under attack. The windowpanes of taxi were smashed and it bore several bullet marks.

Sources claimed that the bodies were initially shifted to an undisclosed location by their relatives.

Later, police and the Edhi Foundation were informed about the incident but when they tried to reach the spot, the area people blocked the way and stopped the law enforcers to enter the locality, they added.

After negotiations, sources said, the police were allowed to enter the settlement. However, the bodies were not present there when police reached.

Later, sources added, Edhi ambulances were called near Malik Aga eating house and some Afghan nationals handed over the bodies.

Police said that nobody had turned up to register a case and nominate the accused in the killings so far.

SUICIDE: A sanitary worker committed suicide inside his house in Korangi on Saturday.

Saleem Masih, resident of Korangi's sector 32-E, used to work with a private sanitary firm. Father of four, he was unable to fulfil his domestic obligations and suffering from depression due to his meagre salary.

Area police said that Saleem Masih consumed a heavy dose of poisonous stuff and died. His body was shifted to a hospital for autopsy.