17 July 2004	Saturday	28 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 16: Police on Friday launched a major operation in Jehanabad, Old Golimar, which has become a stronghold of Arshad Pappu, ring-leader of a notorious gang. A siege of the entire locality was also laid in the afternoon.

The operation, aimed at arresting Pappu and flushing out other criminals, is likely to continue for about 15-20 days during which house-to-house search would be carried out, TPO SITE Imran Shaukat, who is leading the operation, told Dawn.

He said that a 300-strong contingent, comprising fully geared up elite force equipped with bullet proof jackets and heavy weaponry, entered Jehanabad at 3pm. The police started the search operation immediately and unearthed a torture cell also believed to be meant for keeping hostages.

An AK-47 rifle and several rounds were also recovered along with some dismantled TT pistols. Mr Shaukat said that 27 entry/exit points of Jehanabad had been plugged by setting up pickets. Strength of personnel at each picket would depend upon its location, he added.

The TPO pointed out that not a single male person was found present in the locality during the search till evening. However, a late night report said police rounded up six suspects.

"There is no restriction on the movement of women and children within or around Jehanabad. However, males would be subjected to be physically frisked and would be allowed to enter or leave the area after identification."

There are approximately 600 small and medium sized households in Jehanabad and before launching the operation, police had held a meeting with the concerned civic agencies to ensure an uninterrupted water and power supply to its inhabitants during the siege.

"Disruption in power supply during night hours could cause serious problems to us," the TPO said, pointing out that power went off soon after sunset. Subsequently, he added, the KESC deployed staff with two vehicles in Jehanabad area to ensure constant power supply.

Though such a big operation in the area infested by gang war was very much on the cards over the past several months, two recent incidents prompted the authorities to move swiftly.

In one of the incidents, two passenger coaches were hijacked and subsequent destroyed by the members of the Arshad Pappu gang in Jehanabad and Mewashah. In the other incident, a Rangers inspector was reportedly hit by a stray bullet at Baloch Chowk, Lyari.

Soon after assuming charge, CCPO Tariq Jameel had told Dawn that an operation in Lyari had become inevitable and would be launched soon after the TPO was replaced and some other policemen transferred from the area.

In a prelude to the operation, the CCPO had replaced the TPO and all SHOs in Lyari Town. The gang war, between the Arshad Pappu gang and Rehman Dakait gang, escalated after the arrest of Haji Laloo, Pappu's father. Pappu took over his father's underworld business and crime den.

Residents of the area believe that Arshad Pappu is more aggressive and violent than Rehman Dakait. He has allegedly killed a well-known transporter, Faiz Mohammad alias Faizu Mama, according to them.

Residents of the area welcomed the launch of the operation. One of them, Moosa Baloch, told Dawn that the gangsters had gone to the extent to desecrate graves, a reference to the recent bulldozing of the graves of Rehman Dakait's relatives by members of Pappu gang.