KARACHI, Sept 1: The sporadic incidents of violence, continuing in the city since the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti in Balochistan on Aug 26, took a serious turn on Friday evening when two Rangers personnel were shot dead by unknown assailants in Malir area. The incident coincided with the nationwide strike observed in the city in response to a call given by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and supported by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy. In other incidents of violence that took place in different parts of the city on Friday, a senior police official and over a dozen protesters were injured. Two vehicles were also set on fire by angry mobs.

Earlier, on Sunday last, three policemen were injured in an armed attack in Pak Colony area. One of the victims had succumbed to his wounds on Tuesday.

Confirming reports of the attack on Rangers men on Friday, city police chief Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui said that the two Rangers officials were attacked while they were returning to their picket after offering prayers at a nearby mosque near Jinnah Square.

TPO Malir Jamshed Inam told Dawn that Sub-inspector Misri Khan and Lans Naik Ghulam Abbas were returning to their picket near Jinnah Square, Malir, after offering Maghrib prayers at Usman Mosque. He said that the attackers opened fire at them and fled. “At least three shots were fired with a TT pistol from two directions,” he said, adding that the victims received bullets in chest.

Another senior police official said that the Rangers men could not resist as they had left their weapons at the picket before going to the mosque to offer prayers.

The victims had been rushed to the PN Shifa where Misri Khan was pronounced dead on arrival and Ghulam Abbas succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Both of them belonged to the ‘53 Wing’.

Senior officials of the Rangers and police department rushed to the scene after receiving report of the incident.

Rangers personnel were continuing their siege and search operation in the localities around Jinnah Square till last report came in.

A spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers maintained that the operation was being conducted to find a clue to the assailants.

Meanwhile, violence flared up again in Baloch-dominated areas of the city as people received the news that burial of Nawab Bugti’s remains was performed by the government, and not his family members.

Lyari remained the flash point of violence where protesters played hide-and-seek with the law-enforcement agencies throughout the day. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse crowds of protesters elsewhere in the town while sound of gunfire was also heard in the troubled areas during the violence.

Two vehicles, a road roller at Nishtar Road and a pick-up van in Korangi-I Area, were set on fire by protesters.

TPO Keamari Athar Rasheed Butt was injured when a splinter hit his face. He was taken to the Aga Khan Hospital for treatment. Several other policemen and protesters also suffered minor injuries.

People took to the street in the morning and started putting up barriers and bonfire to block thoroughfares and roads in different parts of Lyari despite a heavy deployment of Rangers and police personnel having been made in the previous night.

The affected localities included Lea Market, Kajoor Bazaar, Khori Garden, Chemical Market, Timber Market, Steel Market, Khadda Market, etc., as well as the vital thoroughfare, Shah Latif Bhittai Road.

Apart from Lyari, the localities around Baloch Para, in Jamshed Quarters area, were also affected by violence as groups of angry protesters blocked Jehangir Road and Nishtar Road with burning tyres. A road roller parked at a section of Nishtar Road, near Filmistan cinema, was also set on fire.

In Dalmia area, protesting youths blocked a main road with bonfire. Police resorted to firing teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

CCPO Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, however, said that the situation across the city remained by and large peaceful though there were some incidents of violence. About 40 miscreants were picked up for indulging in the violent incidents, he added.