KARACHI: Two Rangers personnel were killed and a passer-by was wounded by suspected Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants when the law enforcers raided their hideout in Landhi on Tuesday morning.

Hawaldar Amir Hasan, 40, and sepoy Rukhsar Hussain, 30, sustained gunshot wounds during the raid conducted by the paramilitary force in Khurramabad, near the bus stop in Landhi 37-B, police and Rangers officials said.

Five suspects, including the owner of the building, were later detained for interrogation while a total of 10 suspects were booked in the case.

The law-enforcers claimed to have seized hand grenades, crackers and other weapons from the neighbourhood in a search operation carried out following the incident.

Landhi SP Akhter Farooq said the Rangers personnel from Nazimabad acting on information about the presence of TTP militants in the Khurramabad area conducted the raid without informing the local police.

“As the troops knocked at door of the house, the militants opened fire on them leaving the two Rangers personnel and a passer-by, Jahanzeb, wounded,” said the officer.

“The militants used AK-47 rifle and 0.9mm pistol,” he added.

They managed to escape though a search was conducted in the area to catch them, the police said. During the search, five suspects including the house owner were detained for interrogation, said the Rangers spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the wounded personnel and the passer-by were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors declared Hawaldar Amir Hasan and Sepoy Rukhsar dead. Jahanzeb was admitted for treatment, officials said.

The Landhi SP said the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) copies submitted to the landlord by the fleeing militants were seized. He said the fleeing suspects were identified and booked in the case.

The Landhi police registered an FIR (5/2015) on a complaint of Rangers Inspector Asghar Ali of 81-Wing Sachal, Nazimabad, against Kamran alias Kosar, Tariq alias Umar, Shahid Ali alias Sajid, Qari Javed alias Swati, Asadullah and Salman alias Yasir and four unidentified suspects.

The suspects were booked under Sections 302 (murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd), 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 427 (mischief causing damage), 34 (with common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 3/4 Explosive Act and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Funeral prayers for the two soldiers were later offered at the Rangers training centre, situated off the Superhighway, after which the bodies were sent to their native towns in Punjab for burial.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2015

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