KARACHI, Sept 14: An alleged member of the notorious Arshad Pappu gang was killed in, what police claimed, an ‘encounter’ in Baghdadi on Wednesday. The Industrial Crime Unit (ICU), on a tip-off that one, Hasan alias Kalloo, had come to Eidu Lane in Baghdadi along with some other members of the gang, raided the identified place. The police party, headed by DSPs Aslam Khan and Irfan Bahadur, was attacked with firearms.

The police returned the fire resulting in serious injuries to Hasan alias Kalloo whose accomplices managed to flee the scene into narrow lanes. Kalloo was taken to the Civil Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on the arrival.

Police said that Kalloo was wanted in at least 30 cases of murder, attempted murder, encounter with police, kidnapping for ransom, etc. He carried a head-money of Rs200,000 and had remained a close aid of Arshad Pappu.

The police have launched a crackdown on criminals belonging to the Arshad Pappu gang and its rival Rehman Dakait gang. Since March this year, 19 gangsters, including Kalloo, have been killed in encounters with police. Efforts are under way to arrest the two ringleaders, the police said.

In a separate development, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) on Wednesday arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai on May 30 last year.

The suspect, Nafees Shah, was picked up in a raid on a house in Pehalwan Goth, Gulistan-i-Jauhar. His arrest came after a witness in the case identified him through a photograph.

“We have picked up Nafees for investigation, yet are not sure about his involvement,” SP AVCC Farooq Awan said, adding that Cell might reach a conclusion after proper investigation.

The police also appeared unsure about his the affiliation with some sectarian outfit.