KARACHI: Relatives of the two men, who had been killed in an alleged encounter in Orangi Town a couple of days ago, staged a protest on Wednesday evening outside the office of the West-SSP against the killings. The relatives were claiming that the youth were innocent and the encounter was ‘staged’.

Their protest triggered a traffic chaos in adjoining areas, traffic police officials said.

The two suspects, namely Bilal Chanzeb and Naqash Ali, were shot dead while constable Tameer Husain, 30, was wounded in the encounter in Qasba Colony on Dec 2 (Monday).

The police claimed that two “robbers” had entered the house of Mubarak Shah and started looting valuables, including Rs1.5 million.

The owner managed to contact police and informed them about the robbery. The police arrived at the scene and the encounter took place.

However, the relatives claimed that it was a ‘fake’ encounter.

West-DIG Irfan Ali Baloch told Dawn that the relatives had no ‘evidence or proof’ that it was a fake encounter.

Mr Baloch said Addl. IGP Karachi Javed Odho had ordered an inquiry to ascertain veracity of the claims and appointed South-SSP Sajid Amir Sadozai as an inquiry officer (IO).

The IO on Wednesday visited Orangi Town and met the family members of the suspects.

The DIG said the IO asked them to furnish any evidence to support their allegations. He said the relatives were claiming that both the youths had “entered the house over the issue of a girl”, but they did not name anyone.

Instead of providing any proof to support their claims, the relatives were demanding removal of the area SHO and other policemen without any ‘reason’, said the DIG.

He said the police had ‘proof’ that it was a genuine encounter that took place at the house and neighbours were “witness” to it.

The killed suspects had allegedly taken a woman hostage at gunpoint. He said the encounter took place inside the home. He said the pistol had also been recovered from their possession. However, the West DIG admitted that the killed suspects had no “past criminal record”.

He said they were waiting for findings of the inquiry.

Traffic congestion

Meanwhile, a traffic police spokesperson in a statement said that the residents’ protest in Orangi Town-5 at 8:15pm against the local police had adversely affected the flow of traffic in Orangi and adjoining areas.

The traffic movement was badly affected at the Board Office, Abdullah College, Banaras Chowk and Habib Bank Chowrangi.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024