KARACHI, Feb 16: A more than eight-hour 'targeted-operation' mainly by the Rangers in strife-hit Lyari and the old city areas on Thursday led to protests by residents that attracted teargas shelling and baton-charge from the police, leaving four women among six people injured, officials and witnesses said.

The action, launched just before sunrise, ended with the detention of two dozen people, most of whom were later released after initial inquiry.

The Rangers, however, said that they were still interrogating three suspects.

"Due to deteriorating law and order situation the other day (Wednesday), the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) along with the police launched a joint action and carried out a targeted operation in different areas of Lyari," said the statement issued by the Rangers.

"During the operation three suspects were detained and the law-enforcers recovered different kinds of 51 arms from them. The detained suspects are further being interrogated."

According to police sources and area residents, the heavy contingent of the Rangers backed by the police started cordoning off the area just before dawn and began a 'house-to-house search' soon afterwards. The localities where the operation was carried out included Kalri, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Road, Hingorabad, Jumma Baloch Road, Ghausia Road, Sulaiman Azad Road, Bihar Colony, Agra Taj Colony, Phool Patti Lane and adjoining streets.

The situation turned ugly when dozens of residents, mainly women and children, took to the streets in Agra Taj Colony protesting against the targeted operation.

The police said they only fired teargas shells after the protesters turned down all requests to remain calm and defied orders that were given to establish the 'writ of the state' in the area.

"We received eight injured with minor wounds of teargas shelling and baton-charge," said an official at the Civil Hospital Karachi. "They included 35-year-old Aleema, two women named Sakina, 50 and 37, Naz Bibi, 55, Hussain Essa, 37, and 25-year-old Younus Sattar. They were released after initial treatment."

The volatile law and order situation in Lyari and old city areas in recent times had forced the authorities to initiate efforts that had brought relative peace to the city's oldest neighbourhood in recent months.

However, the armed groups appear to be remerging after a brief lull.

A meeting of senior police officers to discuss the situation chaired by Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wassan ended with little more than warnings to bring the situation under control and promises to ensure better days ahead. "The minister summoned the DIG south and other senior officers and asked them to take strong action against the people involved in recent killings," said a home ministry statement.

"The minister has expressed his anger over the killing during the last two days and said the people behind the recent incidents should be arrested and brought to justice."