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KARACHI, July 17: Police, besieging Jehanabad locality since Friday afternoon, continued search for the ring-leader of notorious gang, Arshad Pappu and his gang members on Saturday.
However, neither any arrest was made nor was any weapon recovered during the whole day of the operation.
The operation was launched to break Pappu's network and bust his gang which had made life of the local residents miserable. A 300-strong contingent of police and commandos was mobilized to lay a siege to the entire locality and cordon off entry/exit points.
Town Police Officer of SITE, Imran Shaukat, who is leading the operation, told Dawn on Saturday evening that the operation would continue till the objective was achieved.
Inspector General Syed Kamal Shah and CCPO Tariq Jamil also visited Jehanabad to review the progress in the search operation.
Mr Shaukat said that criminals had raised walls and other structures in narrow streets to hinder free movement of police vehicles. The police decided to demolish the structures for easy access and rapid movement across the locality.
He said that authorities had reinforced the contingent by 60, raising its strength to 360.Police carried out search of about 40 more houses on Saturday and undertook digging at different places in search of illegal weapons, Mr Shaukat said, adding that these places included the residence of Arshad Pappu.
"We have credible information that the criminals have concealed their weapons somewhere within the area. We carried out digging at suspicious spots and will cover more spots in the next few days," he said. However, he added, no weapons were found on Saturday. On Friday, police had unearthed a torture cell used for keeping people kidnapped by the gangsters. An AK-47 rifle and several rounds, as well as some dismantled TT pistols, were also recovered.
Police have already plugged 27 exit/entry points of Jehanabad by setting up pickets. Strength of personnel varies as per the location of each picket, according to the TPO.
Mr Shaukat said that there was no restriction on the movement of women and children within Jehanabad or their entry into or exit from the locality. However, he added, men were being frisked and allowed to move into or out of the area upon establishing their identity.
VISIT: IGP Syed Kamal Shah on Saturday visited Jehanabad area where operation against criminals and gangsters was under way, adds APP.
SITE TPO told the IGP that a hunt for Arshad Pappu was continuing and 27 pickets had been set up for manning the entry/exit points of the locality.
He pointed out that Jehanabad, considered to be the den of Pappu, shares its boundaries with Baldia and Keamari towns.
Mr Shah directed the TPO to remain in constant touch with city government and advised him to ensure that no inconvenience was caused to area people.
The CCPO told the IGP that eight head-constables and 27 constables of Lyari Town had immediately been transferred to Malir headquarters on suspicion of their links with criminals. He said that departmental action had been initiated against them.
