KARACHI: Four suspected gangsters and a bandit were killed in three shootouts with police in the city late on Friday, officials said.

In the first encounter that took place near the KPT bridge in Gizri area, a suspected bandit lost his life. Police said the suspect, who remains unidentified, was spotted while snatching cash and valuables from passersby near a private bank’s ATM.

“Our patrolling mobile was intercepted by some people who reported that two or three men on a motorbike had deprived them of cash near the KPT bridge,” said a Gizri police official.

“The police reached the place and found the armed youngsters. As the police moved forward, they fired shots at the mobile that triggered a shootout. After the brief encounter one of them fell injured and succumbed to wounds while being moved to hospital. His friends ran away,” the official said.

In Machhar Colony, two suspected gangsters were killed in a shootout with the Docks police. Police claimed to have found arms from their possession.

“Police raided a hideout in Machhar Colony on reports about the presence of some criminals there,” said a Docks police official. “The armed men in the hideout attacked policemen when they were taking positions in the area. The shootout left both criminals dead. The deceased could not be identified but we have reasons to believe that they were associated with a criminal gang operating in Lyari,” he said.

Two suspected gangsters were killed in a shootout in Baldia Town area. SSP city Fida Hussain said the deceased were identified as Jehangir Baloch and Mamdan Baloch, who were associated with the Shiraz Comrade gang.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2016