QUETTA: Noor Muhammad alias Baba Ladla, a wanted gangster of Karachi’s Lyari area, was killed by Iranian border guards on Tuesday.

According to reports reaching here, he was killed along with his two Iranian friends at a border crossing point near Iranian city of Chahbahar when he was crossing the border.

Sources said that Iranian border guards intercepted Baba Ladla and asked him to surrender. When he refused to do so, the guards opened fire, killing him on the spot.

Pakistani border authorities have received information about the killing of Baba Ladla, according to an official.

Another unconfirmed report said that Baba Ladla had been killed by his rival Amjad Koi in Konark area of Iran.

Our staff reporter from Karachi adds: The police authorities in Karachi were not sure about the killing of Baba Ladla but claimed to have made preparations to deal with any backlash in his Lyari stronghold.

“It’s not confirmed yet. We are in touch with the police authorities and other departments in Balochistan to confirm the report about his killing,” said SP City Shiraz Nazeer. “Meanwhile, we have strengthened security in the sensitive area of Lyari.

“Our message is loud and clear: zero tolerance for any violence.

If criminals try to create a law and order situation on the pretext of mourning or protest, police will move into Lyari,” the SP said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.