KARACHI: Two Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan suspects, including one allegedly involved in the killing of army soldiers, were gunned down by the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, in separate encounters on Wednesday, officials said.

The TTP local leader was shot dead by the Rangers in Mauripur in the early hours of Wednesday, the police officials added.

The law-enforcers came under attack when they raided a hideout of militants in Musharraf Colony. In an ensuing exchange of gunfire, one suspected militant was shot dead, the police said.

The body was shifted to the Civil Hospital Karachi.

“He was identified as Zuhair, a local TTP commander,” said City SSP Sheraz Nazeer.

The militant was allegedly involved in the killing of 10 soldiers and other Frontier Constabulary personnel in the tribal areas, the officer said, adding that the TTP leader had come to Karachi to target some “political and religious leaders”.

The other TTP suspect was killed in an encounter with the Rangers in Ittehad Town on Wednesday night, the area police said.

They added that acting on the information about the presence of suspected TTP militants, the troops raided a place in ‘Cottage Area’ behind Mohammed Khan Colony where an exchange of fire ensued. In the shootout, the TTP suspect was shot dead, the police said.However, the police did not disclose the suspect’s identity.

A Rangers spokesperson said that the deceased was identified as Imran alias Umer alias Qari. He was allegedly associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (Swat).

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014