KARACHI, Feb 15: Two suspected members of a criminal underworld were gunned down and their accomplice was arrested in a ‘shootout’ with police in Scheme 33, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, on Tuesday, senior officials said.

They added that the gang being run mainly from Lahore had been involved in armed robberies in Karachi since 1998 to generate finances that were taken to and deposited in a Southeast Asian country.

“It was a joint operation carried out by the south zone’s investigation and operation branches of police,” said DIG South Iqbal Mehmood while speaking at a press conference following the ‘encounter’.

“Acting on a tip-off, we raided a house in Rizwan Housing Society within the remit of the Sachal police station. But, as anticipated, the police party came under an armed attack that triggered an exchange of gunfire.”

The episode lasted a few minutes, he said, allowing the police to get into the house that served as a ‘hideout’ to the alleged bandits for the last few months. While two bandits were killed in firing, their accomplice, Adnan, was arrested unhurt, he said.

“The deceased bandits were later identified as Imran alias Barmal and Owais alias Boss in their early 30s. They were actually associated with the Lahore-based Nomi Butt gang and wanted in more than 100 cases ranging from armed robberies to murders,” the DIG said.

The police seized a shotgun, four TT pistols and passports of the three suspects from the house, he said.

“Under directives from their ringleader, they used to transfer the booties to Malaysia, which has been a centre for the members of their gang operating in different parts of the country,” said SSP investigation south Athar Rasheed Butt.

“They also killed people who offered resistance during robberies,” the SSP said, adding that Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Defence and Clifton were their preferred areas to execute the jobs.

After every few successful robberies, the bandits used to fly to Malaysia to get further directives to meet targets, he said.

“All the three bandits hailed from Lahore and had been operating in Karachi since 1998. They were the key members of their gang in Karachi and we are still investigating to trace their further links or aides in the city,” added SSP Butt.

Shot dead

A young employee of the Sri Lankan consulate was shot dead by armed robbers apparently on resistance near the Garden area before police chased and arrested one of them, officials said.

The police added that Prem Chand was heading home from work when he was intercepted by two armed men riding pillion on a motorbike near Nishtar Road. “As told by the witnesses, there was a scuffle between the victim and the armed snatchers,” said SP Qamar Raza Jaskani of the City Town. “They fired at him on his resistance and were on the run when the Eidgah police patrolling nearby spotted them and a chase ensued.”

Within a few minutes the police reached one of the suspects, later identified as Zubair, but his aide managed to escape, the SP said. “The police seized a TT pistol from the custody of Zubair,” he said, adding that the cellphone of Prem Chand was also recovered.

“The victim was an employee of a low rank in the Sri Lankan consulate and lived near the crime-scene,” added SP Jaskani.