UMERKOT: The Umerkot police on Friday claimed to have arrested a dacoit wanted by the Sindh police in 35 cases of heinous crimes in an encounter near the Ghulam Nabi Shah locality but in a swift reaction, the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Arisar (JSQM-A) said the man was its activist who along with his wife and children had been picked up by police in the Pipri area of Karachi four days ago and the report was also published in several newspapers.

Umerkot City DSP Ali Raza Leghari made the claim about Ashiq Keerio’s arrest in an encounter while speaking at a a press conference on Friday morning. He said Keerio was the same suspect against whom 35 cases of heinous crimes were registered at different police stations of Umerkot, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and other districts.

He said that a police patrol passing by the Farsh regulator (a water supply installation) was informed by a motorcycle rider that a gang of dacoits was present near the Ghulam Nabi Shah locality. He said the policy party rushed to the place and challenged the gang and in the ensuing encounter, Keerio was wounded and arrested. His three associates managed to escape, he added.

An FIR was registered at the Ghulam Nabi Shah police station.

Soon after the press conference, JSQM-A activist Mohammed Swaleh showing some newspaper clippings to local journalists said that Mr Keerio was his party’s Mirpurkhas district vice president. He, along with his wife, Sadaf Keerio, and children, Kaneez Fatima, Iqra, Bisma, Talha and Ali had been picked up by a police team in the Pipri area of Karachi four days ago, he said referring to the published report.

He claimed that Mr Keerio was taken to Ghulam Nabi Shah (a locality of Sanghar district) in custody and alleged that the police fired on his right leg. He said the activists was not involved in any case.

Meanwhile, the suspect was shifted to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital for treatment.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016