KARACHI, June 29: A deep sense of insecurity prevails in the ranks of the city’s police department following the target killing of 10 of their comrades in the month of June in different parts of the city.

Five policemen have been gunned down during the last 7 days in almost similar execution like style by targeting the head. Earlier on June 15, Deputy Superintendent Jail Amanullah Niazi along with four of his associates was gunned down in Saddar area by unknown persons.

ASI Manzoor Awan became the fifth victim of such assaults on Thursday which appears to be carried out on random selection of the target.

The latest victim was posted in the investigation wing of the Quaidabad police station, he was returning from the Central Police Office on his motorcycle.

“When he crossed the Malir Bridge unknown persons following him shot Manzoor from behind as a result of which the bullet pierced through his nose”, SHO Quaidabad police station Nasir Mashwani said.

After sustaining the bullet wound, Manzoor parked his motorcycle and died on the spot, the SHO added.

The five policemen killed are of the ranks of sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector and constable within a span of just seven days.

As many as 27 policemen have been killed in the city since January this year, according to police statistics.

Sensing the alarming situation the DIG operations called a meeting of the SHO’s at his office on Tuesday to discuss the scenario and reprimand them in connection with these killings.

Following the killings, a number of police officers have stopped moving in the city without escorts or police guards. And those officers who are still moving without escorts have been advised not to do so by their seniors, said a police officer.

Earlier, on June 23 Sub-inspector Ejaz Husain suffered a bullet wound in the head near Liaquat Government College Malir, Saudabad. The wounded was rushed to the Jinnah Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said Ejaz suffered a bullet in the neck from behind, the bullet pierced through his face. Initially police thought that Ejaz had been hit by a speeding vehicle. But during autopsy entry and exit wounds of a single bullet were found by the doctors.

On the same day, another policeman SI Nadeem Khan Bangash posted at Al Falah police station was shot in the head at Colony gate bridge, Sharea Faisal.

On June 25, ASI Allah Noor Khan of the crime branch was shot near Asna-i-Ashari Imambargah at S.M. Taufeeq Road.

Constable Mohammad Ashraf of Aziz Bhatti police station was shot dead on June 25 at Rehman Bakery Chota gate Sharea Faisal.

ASI Nadeem Khan of the Site police station was shot dead by unknown persons at Banaras Chowk on June 26.

The five policemen so far killed had no role in the ‘Karachi Operation’, they were apparently picked as random targets, remarked a senior police officer requesting anonymity.

City police chief, Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui told Dawn that there was a similarity of targeting the policemen in head and using silencers, as gunshot was not heard in a single incident.

Pointing out another similarity, Mr Siddiqui said that in at least two incidents, the assailants were wearing helmets.

Who ever is doing it is a sharp shooter, as only a shot is being fired in head with accuracy, he said, adding that we are ascertaining whether bullets of the same caliber are being used or not.

A head constable injured four days back in Shah Faisal town also suffered a bullet wound in the neck from behind, the bullet pierced through his jaw, he is recovering in the hospital, the City police chief said.

The statistics compiled by the police department showed that as many as 20 policemen were killed in 2005, 26 in 2004, 19 in 2003 and 17 in the year 2002.