KARACHI, May 16: More than 50 people, mostly youths, have been killed in various shootouts between two narco gangs in the narrow streets of Lyari in the recent past. Exchange of fires have now become routine in Lyari. Residents of Ali Mohammad Mohalla are the worst hit and they prefer staying indoors after sunset.

Going to workplaces and returning to home has become the only outing for people, who are mainly labourers, shopkeepers and employees in government and semi-government organizations.

People are so terrified that they don't even dare taking the risk of talking about it. A senior social worker, on condition of anonymity, said: "People have lost faith in everything. They are fully convinced that they cannot stop armed gangsters."

In the past, he said, search operations had been conducted many a times to arrest culprits involving in criminal activities, but every time situation remained unchanged. He demanded establishment of check-posts in sensitive areas of the town.

According to him, the sensitivity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that local bodies representatives of the Town had voiced their concern over the situation at a press conference some time ago.

Among the victims also included two sons of the Town Nazim who were wounded by dacoits. NGO representatives said it was the inefficiency of law- enforcement agencies which has given rise to incidents of violence in the town.

"The political forces have also kept a mum and adopted an indifferent attitude towards the situation which has perturbed every resident", a political activist said.

According to him, because of their gun-power, the criminal elements have turned some of the localities into a safe haven for their anti-social activities and have made peaceful people hostage.

He said: "The atmosphere of fear and terror in some parts of locality has created a sense of alienation among people who are now shifting to other areas". A shopkeeper in Kalakot said he was ready to sell his house, but no one was ready to purchase it and he could not afford to buy a new one.

Another political worker said: "Drug is neither produced, nor manufactured here, but it is brought here from outside."

He said: "Despite intensive patrolling and deployment of law enforcement agencies at exit routes, drug is being sold openly in the narrow streets of some localities and police are fully aware of it." This is evident from the large number of addicts roaming the adjoining areas.