KARACHI: Police on Friday claimed to have killed a militant linked with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Swat (TTS) and a gangster from Lyari in an ‘encounter’ in the Manghopir area.

The police said those killed were planning to carry out terror acts in the metropolis during the Eidul Fitr holidays.

The officials added that the gangster, identified as Khalid alias Khhudai, was involved in the murder of at least 42 people, while the TTS militant, Rehmatullah, had allegedly killed policemen, army and paramilitary troops besides political workers.Karachi-West SSP Pir Mohammed Shah told Dawn that TTS and Lyari gangsters had developed a ‘nexus’ to carry out criminal activities in Karachi. The police had received reports that the militants and gangsters had joined hands after developing “links” with militants in Wadh, Balochistan, said Manghopir SHO Ghulam Husain Korai.

The two suspects were gunned down in an exchange of fire with police in the early hours of Friday when the law enforcers along with the operatives of an intelligence agency conducted a targeted raid in Zebu Goth near Pakistan Restaurant, off the Northern Bypass, in the Manghopir area.

Police received reports that militants and gangsters had joined hands after developing ‘links’ with militants in Wadh, Balochistan.

The police claimed to have seized two hand grenades, one Kalashnikov, one 9mm pistol and one 30-bore pistol from the custody of the deceased.

The SHO said Khalid alias Khudai along with Asif Niazi of the then Peoples Amn Committee and others had hijacked a bus, with 70 to 80 passengers aboard, in the year 2012. He along with his accomplices allegedly killed 20 people whose bodies were then dumped in different areas, said the police official.

He said most of the victims were Urdu-speaking.

This gruesome incident was part of a vicious turf war between the banned Peoples Amn Committee and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the SHO added.

The gangster, Khalid alias Khudai, was also involved in the kidnapping and killing of 16 MQM workers, he said. He along with Sajid Baloch who now operated from Dubai and others had kidnapped MQM workers from different areas and later murdered them, said the officer. Besides, he killed four police officials in Lyari including the then Kalakot SHO Arshad Butt, he said. The gangster was involved in a gun attack on the late SP Chaudhry Aslam and SSP Irfan Bahadur, he said.

About the TTS militant, the Manghopir SHO said that he was a ‘right hand man’ of Salman alias Yasir Swati.

According to the police, Rehmatullah was involved in the targeted killing of law enforcers, Awami National Party workers, including Lal Darvesh and Amir Sardar, and others. He allegedly killed four policemen, including police constables Taj and Javed, in different parts of Orangi Town. He also killed a Rangers official, Farooq, and a retired army soldier who was targeted in Faqir Colony of Orangi Town on the suspicion of being an informer.

Besides, Rehmatullah allegedly carried out a cracker attack on the residence of Pakistan Peoples Party candidate for PS-97, Abdul Khaliq, in the year 2013. He also carried out a cracker attack on ‘Sewani Baba Mazar’ over non-payment of Rs2 million extortion. He attacked Rizwan Hospital with a hand grenade over non-payment of extortion. He was involved in an assassination attempt on the life of the then manager of Meezan Bank, Asif, in the year 2014 over non-payment of extortion.

Karachi-West SSP Pir Mohammed Shah told Dawn that Khalid alias Khudai was operating with the TTS as Peoples Amn Committee had been disbanded with the arrest of PAC leader Uzair Baloch.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2016