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KARACHI, July 18: Three close associates of Arshad Pappu, a notorious drug baron and ring-leader of a gang of criminals, were arrested on Sunday, the third day of the ongoing police operation in Jehanabad, Old Golimar.
TPO Imran Shaukat of SITE told Dawn that the three suspects had been picked up during raids on nine houses which had been occupied by Pappu forcibly. Three pistols and cell phones were also recovered from their possession, he said, adding that the cell phones showed some messages, received from Arshad Pappu, ordering them to leave the place and rush into some safe location.
He termed the arrests 'a breakthrough' but did not disclose their identities. The TPO said that the assistance and cooperation extended to the police by residents of the area was a positive trend.
He said that the fresh arrests were result of the same cooperation. He observed that the continued presence of police force and Saturday's visit by IGP Syed Kamal Shah and CCPO Tariq Jameel to Jehanabad had restored people's confidence in police.
Mr Shaukat, who is leading the operation, expressed the hope that Pappu would soon be arrested as there was no escape route left open for him. He pointed out that he could escape neither to Lyari nor to Hub as both the areas were considered to be the strongholds of his arch rival, Rehman Dakait.
The 300-strong elite force had laid a siege to Jehanabad on Friday afternoon to flush out gangsters and criminals.
CRACKDOWN: Police on Sunday cordoned off Channesar Goth (Mehmoodabad) to launch a crackdown on criminals involved in drug trade. However, no arrests could be made or drugs recovered till late in the night. SHO Najam Altaf of Mehmoodabad maintained that outlaws managed to flee before police moved in.
Mobiles vans of Ferozabad, Jamshed, Soldier Bazaar and Mehmoodabad police were deployed to cordon off the area, he said, adding that a similar operation would be conducted on Monday with a stronger force.
Police had picked up two persons from the area but released them after questioning. Channesar Goth has become notorious for drug trade and an unspecified number of drug dens are reportedly operating in the area.
SHOT DEAD: A man was shot dead outside his house in Lyari on Sunday. Police said Waseem, 22, was standing outside his house in Nawalane area when two men on a motorcycle shot him and fled. The victim was a labourer. His uncle lodged an FIR against two suspects, Jafar and Shakir. Police suspected enmity as the motive for the killing.
