KARACHI: Motorcycle-riding assailants gunned down another police officer in Zaman Town on Monday morning in a suspected targeted attack believed to be linked to the ongoing killing of police officials in the city, taking the death toll of policemen killed this month alone to 15.

Korangi SP Usman Ijaz Bajwa said that Assistant Sub-Inspector Kamran Shah left his residence in Korangi on a motorcycle to join duty at the Mithadar police station when gunmen intercepted him near Chakra Goth. He was wearing civilian clothes when he was attacked, he added. Two bullets hit him, including one to the neck which proved fatal, and he was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, he said.

“The police officer’s murder is related to the ongoing wave of violence against policemen in the city,” said Mr Bajwa.

With the latest murder of the cop, the death toll of policemen in the month of January has reached 15. Earlier, a police constable died and an ASI suffered injuries in an attack on their motorcycle by four bike-riders near DMC signal in Aram Bagh area on Sunday night.

On Thursday, two policemen were shot dead while they were busy snap checking at Shafiq Morr. A day earlier, two traffic policemen were gunned down in an attack on traffic police post near Sohrab Goth.

Two policemen were shot dead in an attack on a police mobile van in Pirabad area on Jan 4, while another cop was gunned down by suspected gangsters in the Sachal Goth area the same day.

On Jan 5, two police guards deployed for security of an Awami National Party leader were shot dead in an attack on the ANP leader’s shop in Baldia-Medina Colony while a police inspector was gunned down in Orangi Town on Jan 13.

CID SP Mohammad Aslam Khan was killed also in a suspected suicide bombing along with his two police guards during this month.

On Sunday, the city police organised a ceremony at the Garden headquarters to commemorate the sacrifices of the 70 policemen who had recently laid down their lives in the line of duty. Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Shahid Hayat Khan addressed the ceremony.

The city police chief vowed that “targeted operation will continue and no political pressure will be accepted.” He disclosed that Sindh government had given approval to purchasing 100 bullet proof mobiles for police out of which 20 vans would be handed over to police next week.

He revealed that 15,000 bullet-proof jackets for policemen would also be procured next month.Shahid Hayat announced that heirs of 70 martyred policemen would be presented recruitment orders next week and directed DIGs to meet relatives of the deceased policemen and keep in touch with them.