KARACHI, May 7: At least two gangsters were reportedly killed and seven others were wounded when police moved into a Lyari neighbourhood to recover a kidnap victim from the custody of the gang on Wednesday.

The shootout was triggered when police went inside the Ali Mohammad Mohallah acting on information suggesting the presence of a victim of kidnapping for ransom in the neighbourhood.

“We came under fire from both gangs after entering the Ali Mohammad Mohallah. After retreating, police took up positions and returned fire,” SP Lyari Imran Shaukat said.

Police were not able to secure the release of the kidnap victim — a builder — due to the intense firing. Ali Mohammad Mohallah is predominantly considered a stronghold of Ghaffar Zikri, who has reportedly been keeping several kidnap victims in the area hostage for ransom. Following the shootout, police reinforcements were called and well over 100 policemen took part in the operation encircling Ali Mohammad Mohallah. The intense firing that broke out in the afternoon continued till the evening, during which three suspects were reportedly killed. “The bodies could not be recovered as they took them away in the narrow streets, but we can presume that there are at least two to three persons seriously injured or dead,” SP Shaukat