The suspected leader of a 'rickshaw gang' that targeted over 200 women was arrested in an injured condition along with a companion after exchanging fire with Ferozeabad police in Karachi, Senior Superintendent of Police East (SSP East) Azfar Mahesar said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Cash, dozens of valuable women's handbags and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands were recovered from the duo.

On the special directives of the SSP East, Jamshed Town Superintendent of Police (SP) Shamyl Riaz had formed a team consisting of Ferozabad Station House Officer (SHO) Aurangzeb Khan Khattak and Ghulam Nabi Afridi.

The team had received information that three suspects were in the PECHS area of the city.

As soon as they saw the police, the suspects started firing. In the resulting shootout, the gang leader was injured, the official said.

Police subsequently surrounded the area, arresting the injured suspect and his companion.

The suspect revealed that for four and a half years, his four-member group had used to target women.

Apart from snatching valuables, the gang also used cutting tools to cut and take off women's bangles and jewelry.

During a subsequent police raid, over 70 valuable handbags snatched from women, hundreds of thousands of rupees in cash, as well as over 50 mobile phones and laptops were recovered from the accused.

A motorcycle and a rickshaw used to conduct street crimes were also recovered.

According to a press release issued by the police, the suspects had been arrested and served time in jail before for murder and robbery. They formed their gang while they were incarcerated.

Most of their crimes were carried out in the PECHS, Tipu Sultan, Clifton, Nursery and Gulshan-i-Iqbal areas of Karachi.

Two and a half months ago, one of the suspect's companions was arrested by the Bahadurabad Station and is currently in jail.

Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Karachi Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh has announced a cash reward and congratulatory certificate for Ferozeabad police.