KARACHI, Jan 3: A close associate of the notorious gang leader, Rehman Dakait, was killed in an encounter in Lyari while three persons including two policemen were wounded in the encounter. Six of Rehman's accomplices were also arrested after the encounter.

The TPO Lyari, Malick Mazhar Husain, told Dawn that he was informed that members of Rehman Dacoit were present near the Nayabad Cheel Chowk. As the police party reached the spot, a fierce encounter broke out between them and the armed suspects.

The TPO said that during an encounter, which lasted for an hour, SHO Kalakot Shaukat Shani and Head Constable Manzoor suffered kalashnikov fire. Subsequently, the police also retaliated with fire.

The suspect identified as Shahnawaz alias Shani, who is said to be the right hand of Rehman Dakait, suffered fatal bullet wounds and died. Police said that Nazeer Balla, another accomplice of Rehman Dakait suffered bullet wounds and was rushed to the Civil Hospital and was said to be in serious condition.

The police also arrested six other accomplices identified as Iftikhar, Babar, Sajid, Khalil, Tahir and Munir. All four SHO's of the Lyari Town and the TPO himself took part in the encounter.

"Seven TT pistols, six grenades, a kalashnikov, and a rocket launcher were recovered from the suspects," the TPO added. A few days back, the Shahnawaz group had extorted Rs70,000 from an industrialist. He was also wanted in around 20 cases of heinous nature, the police added.

In addition, the gang had turned an abandoned factory premises into a torture cell near Mill Area in Usmanabad, police said. It is pertinent to add here that this was the first major crackdown on criminal elements in Lyari since the recent reshuffle in which the TPO and three SHOs were replaced on Dec 13.

INJURED: The driver of Balochistan's home minister was wounded in a car snatching bid in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on Monday night.