KARACHI, July 20: As an operation to flush out criminals in Jehanabad entered the fifth day on Tuesday, Arshad Puppoo, wanted in several cases of heinous nature and carrying a head money of Rs3 million , told the police that he was ready to surrender.

The notorious gangster is, however, reportedly seeking a guarantee from the police that he would not be killed in a shootout. A senior police official said that Arshad Puppoo called the TPO SITE, Imran Shaukat, on his cellular phone, saying he is ready to surrender if the police lift a siege of Jehanabad - the stronghold of Arshad Puppoo.

The telephonic contact was established late Monday night, sources said. He expressed his reservations that police might kill him in an encounter. The TPO suggested him that he can surrender in any court of law if he had any fears.

"I assured him that we will not kill him in an encounter as we respect humanity", Imran Shaukat told Dawn. Arshad Puppoo also told the police that he had abandoned his mouser pistol at a place in Jehanabad which the police later recovered.

Soon after his telephonic conversation with the TPO, the police raided three hideouts of Arshad outside Jehanabad, but according to the TPO SITE, he left the three places moments before the arrival of the police.

The police also found three cellular phones with charges and hooked to electric sockets. Arshad Puppoo reportedly used these phones in kidnapping for ransom case. Two raids were conducted in Malir while the third raid was made in Mawach goth.

The Sindh government had announced a head money of Rs3 million for the arrest of Arshad Puppoo several years back. The police on Friday last launched a major operation in Jehanabad, Old Golimar, and laid a siege of the locality but failed to arrest Arshad Puppoo.

About 300 elite force personnel, fully equipped with bullet-proof jackets and heavy weaponry, entered Jehanabad on July 16 at 3 pm. During the search, police unearthed a torture cell being operated by the Arshad Puppoo group where people were used to be made hostage.

An AK-47 rifle and several rounds were also recovered. Similarly, several dismantled TT pistols were also found. In subsequent raids, the police arrested three close associates of Arshad Puppoo, including his nephew.

Police have plugged 27 exit and entry points of Jehanabad by setting up pickets. There is no restriction on movement of women and children. However, male members are being physically frisked and only allowed to enter or leave the area upon establishing their identity.

Jehanabad comprises approximately 600 small and medium-size houses. Before launching an operation, the police held a meeting with the civic agencies concerned to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and water.

Though an operation in the areas infested by gangwar was very much on the cards for the past several months, the recent incident of hijacking and subsequent destruction of two passenger coach in Jehanabad and Mewashah by the members of Arshad Puppoo group and wounding of a Ranger inspector who was reportedly hit by a stray bullet at Baloch Chowk, Lyari prompted the operation on Friday.

Prior to the operation, the CCPO had changed all the SHOs along with a substantial number of policemen of Lyari town and had also replaced the area TPO. A sizable number of policemen posted in Lyari have been sent to Malir town for their complicity with criminal gangs.

However, several insiders in the police department have questioned the posting of Javed Baloch as TPO Lyari. The gangwar between the groups of Arshad Puppoo and Rehman Dakait heated-up after the arrest of Haji Laloo, the father of Arshad Puppoo.