KARACHI: Protesters carrying the coffin of a boy killed during an anti-encroachment drive in Gulshan-i-Maymar on Thursday blocked the Northern Bypass on Friday.

They said the boy was shot dead while another critically wounded by police when an anti-encroachment drive launched by the Malir Development Authority (MDA) and Anti-Encroachment Cell (AEC) of the Sindh government turned violent.

The law enforcers denied the protesters’ claim.

Gulshan-i-Maymar SHO Waqar Kaiser said the MDA and AEC had launched an operation against illegal occupation of government land in Sector-24 and Sector-19 of Taiser Town.

The police provided back-up and announcements were made asking ‘land grabbers’ to vacate the official land, but they did not give any heed to the warning.

The SHO claimed one ‘land grabber’, Ahmed Shah Kazmi, backed by his supports attacked the police with stones when the West police launched an operation to demolish the encroachments.

Initially the police managed to vacate some land, but they attacked the police vehicles with stones.

The attackers also opened gunfire on armoured personnel carriers of police, resulting in damages to one APC, claimed the SHO. He said the police did not use firearm, instead used only tear gas shells.

The land grabbers fled towards Umer Brohi Goth while firing bullets resulting in injuries to two passer-by boys Yunus Chandio, aged around 8-9 years and Sanwal, 12, the SHO claimed.

He added that they collected several spent bullet casings fired from different pistols allegedly used by land grabbers.

Both the injured boys were taken to hospital where Yunus was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sanwal received bullet injuries and his condition was stated to be critical.

The relatives and residents on Friday morning blocked the Northern Bypass near Indus Mor in protest. The protest continued till the evening.

The protesters demanded action against those who were responsible for the boy’s death.

They burnt old tyres which suspended traffic on the road. The protesters told journalists that the boy was killed in firing and shelling by police.

They said they were ‘owners’ of the land and they were pleading their cases in courts.

MDA director general Nasimul Ghani Sahito told the media that land grabbers were using ‘innocent’ persons as a pretext to further their vested interests.

The Gulshan-i-Maymar SHO said an FIR had been registered.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023