January 16, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 25, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 13: Three suspected dacoits were killed and two of their accomplices were arrested on Monday after a shootout with police in Baldia Town. A police party was conducting snap checking in Afridi Colony where they spotted five suspects on two motorcycles around 5:15pm. When they signalled the motorcyclists to stop, they opened fire. Police returned the fire killing one suspect and wounding two of his accomplices. A constable, Liaquat, and three children, Shahab, 5, Kamran, 8, and Abdur Razzaq, 11, also were injured in the exchange of fire.

Baldia Town Police Officer Nauman Siddiqui told Dawn that the ring leader, Abdul Aziz Dada, was killed on the spot and his two accomplices – Saleem Dada and Imran – died while they were being taken to the hospital. He said two suspects who remained unhurt in the shootout were identified as Abdullah and Umer Qadri. Police seized five pistols from the alleged gangsters who were stated to be involved in several incidents of robberies and mugging.

The injured constable and children were shifted to the Civil Hospital. Shahab was stated to be in critical condition. Doctors said the boy had sustained a bullet in his abdomen. Condition of the other injured was stable as they had sustained bullet wounds in their legs, doctors said.

BODY FOUND: Partially decomposed body of a young woman was found in Labour Colony, Quaidabad, on Monday.

Police said they recovered the body after breaking open the house No1241/42. They said the residents of the vicinity had reported to the police about the stink emitting out of the locked house. The house was rented out to Hamid Ali on November 3, last year. The man, who remained untraceable, had been living with the woman since then, they said.

The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where the doctors said the victim was in her early twenties and she died at least four to five days ago. They said the cause of her death would be ascertained after autopsy.