KARACHI: Five suspected gangsters, including one wanted in several cases, were shot dead in an encounter by a joint task force of the police and Rangers in Karachi's Napier area on Friday, said officials.

Station House Officer (SHO) Napier, Azam Khan, was critically injured in the exchange. A Rangers personnel and a policeman were also wounded during heavy exchange of firing between the law enforcers and the suspects.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Fida Hussain Janwari, the police obtained intelligence about the presence of gangsters in Ghulam Hussain Shah Lane near Lea Market after which a joint team of the police and Rangers conducted a targeted raid on an alleged hideout.

The suspects, who attacked the raiding team, were killed in retaliatory firing, said SSP Fida Hussain.

He identified one of the deceased as Sadiq Gadani. “He had established a reign of terror in Lyari,” claimed the senior police officer.

“Sadiq Gadani was linked with Noor Mohammed alias Baba Ladla gang,” he said. But some residents said Sadiq Gadani had recently parted ways with Baba Ladla and joined the ‘Lashari gang.’

The Sindh government had placed a one million rupees bounty on his head.

The other deceased gangsters were identified as Salar, Shahnawaz and Raza while a fifth suspect could not be identified immediately, said the SSP.

The injured Napier SHO was admitted to a private hospital on Stadium Road where his state is said to be improving, said SSP Fida Hussain. The condition of the other injured personnel is also stable, he added.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Khan Sial has announced a reward of Rs500,000 for the police officials who "courageously participated in the encounter."

The home minister has also appreciated the commendable work of both the police and Rangers.