KARACHI, Aug 9: In pre-dawn raids, police backed by Rangers rounded up 90 suspects allegedly involved in the recent spate of violence and killings mainly in eastern parts of the city, officials said on Tuesday.

The authorities claimed the recovery of arms from the suspects’ possession but they did not offer anything in evidence to corroborate such claims neither did they disclose the political association of the suspects.

The police action sowed anger in a few localities where residents, particularly the family members of the detained suspects, took to the streets and laid siege to a police station.

“We have detained a total of 90 suspects,” said DIG East Akram Naeem Barokha. “We have also recovered arms from their possession. They are still being interrogated and a few of them, if found innocent, are expected to be released but most suspects would face due action.”

He said the raids were conducted in affected pockets of Malir, Landhi 89, Surjani Town, Ayub Goth and Lasi Goth, as well as in Rabia City and Faraz Apartment situated in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The police action began after an armed clash at the Rabia City left two people dead and five others wounded on Monday.

In the Malir area, residents in large numbers staged a protest demonstration against the action by the law-enforcers.

After an hour-long ‘search operation’ in localities neighboring Jafar-i-Tayyar Housing Society and Lasi Goth, dozens of men, women and children appeared on the National Highway and blocked it for some time.

Then they turned to the Malir City police station, situated along the highway, and staged a sit-in there. They also hurled stones at moving vehicles and police vans. The protesters later dispersed after intervention of senior police authorities and the community elders.

“We have assured them that if anyone was found innocent, he would be back home as soon as possible. In such a situation, we expect cooperation from all segments of society and that was what we tried to convey to the area people,” DIG Barokha said.