KARACHI: Four suspected gangsters were killed on Wednesday in an alleged encounter in Lyari a few hours after an armed attack on a mobile van of paramilitary Rangers left a soldier dead and four others wounded.

Officials said that a raid carried out by the paramilitary force backed by police on a hideout of suspected gangsters in a densely-populated Lyari locality turned into a deadly gun battle between the two sides in which four suspects were killed.

But, the family of one of the suspects came up with a claim that he was a mentally challenged person who had nothing to do with criminal activities. However, a senior police officer said that the deceased was a “drug addict and associate of gangsters”.

Police sources told Dawn that the paramilitary force personnel had gone to Ali Mohammad Mohalla in Baghdadi on the information of the presence of a “high-value target” on Tuesday night.

One of the deceased was a mentally challenged man, claims family

They said that law enforcers entered the narrow lanes by foot and as soon as the suspects saw them they ran away. The Rangers soldiers chased them and the suspects opened fire and threw a grenade, killing one of the personnel.

The incident triggered panic and fear in the neighbourhood where a surge in criminal and violent incidents had been witnessed recently.

A Rangers’ statement said: “Terrorists armed with hand grenade and automatic rifles attacked the Rangers mobile near Ali Muhammad Mohalla.”

During an exchange of gunfire one suspect and one Rangers personnel, identified as Fawad Khan, were killed.

The Rangers claimed to have seized a 9mm pistol, a grenade and three ‘Awan bombs’ from the possession of the dead attacker.

Following the incident, a search operation was launched in the area and the law enforcers cordoned off the locality.

There was another exchange of gunfire between the law enforcers and suspected gangsters in which four more “terrorists” were killed, according to a Rangers spokesperson.

He said four Kalashnikovs were also seized from their custody.

The Rangers statement said the five killed suspects had been identified as Chakar Ali, Mahar Ali, Amir Ali alias Amir Panday, Umair Ali and another suspect also named Amir Ali.

“The killed terrorists belonged to a Lyari gang-war group who were wanted by police in different crimes,” it added.

The bodies of the Rangers soldier and suspected gangsters were taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi for a post-mortem examination.

Hospital sources said that the Rangers man was hit by both bullets and grenade. Three injured soldiers were discharged after first aid while a fourth soldier got admitted for treatment.

Relatives dispute Rangers’ version

However, a relative of Chakar Ali, one of the deceased, disputed the Rangers’ version.

His uncle Rasool Bux told Dawn that Chakar was a mentally challenged person and remained under treatment at the Lyari General Hospital.

He said that he left his house in Ali Mohammad Mohalla at around 7pm on Tuesday.

He demanded a proper investigation into his killing to unearth the truth.

Police insist he was a drug addict

However, City SSP Sheeraz Nazeer told Dawn that Chakar was a drug addict, and not a mentally challenged man, who remained associated with gangsters. His brother Shahzad was also an alleged criminal and absconder, he added.

He said that the criminal record of other deceased was being looked into. He said around 26 persons were detained during the search operation and their particulars were being verified.

He said the police believed that the suspects who killed the Rangers soldier belonged to the Ghaffar Zikri-led gang.

Rangers DG seeks people’s cooperation

The funeral prayers of the martyred soldier, Fawad Khan, was held at a local Rangers headquarters. Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, Corps Commander Lt Gen Shahid Beg, Rangers Director General Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed and others attended the funeral.

Later, the body was sent to his ancestral town Lakki Marwat for burial.

The Rangers chief along with Karachi police chief Mushtaq Ahmad Mahar visited the crime scene in Ali Mohammad Mohalla.

He appreciated the Rangers personnel and also issued “important directions” for further improving law and order in Lyari.

He urged Lyari residents to cooperate with the Rangers and police for bringing a “sustainable peace” in their locality.

The Rangers chief also visited the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital where he inquired after the health of wounded Rangers men.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018