Number of target killings falling fast in city: police report

Karachi
The Karachi police have released their operational report showing a decrease in target killings and other heinous crimes but a rise in street crimes.
The report indicates the success of a targeted operation being spearheaded by the paramilitary Rangers, who have stepped up their crackdown on terrorists across the city.
The operation began on September 5, 2013, after a special federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Governor House, decided to rid the city of all criminals, including target killers, extortionists and kidnappers.

Target killings
In the 19 months before the operation, 4,267 people were killed in attacks in the city, and since from the start of operation the figure has fallen to 2,546, a decrease of 1,614.
From January 1 to March 31 in 2014, 549 people were killed in attacks while in the first three months this year the figure has decreased to 242, a fall of 307.
In the first three months this year, 45 people have died in incidents of target killings, while in the corresponding period last year 78 people had been targeted, a decrease 33 killings.

Attacks on policemen
Law enforcers are bearing the brunt of the ongoing operation in Karachi, where, according to the report, 177 policemen were killed in 2013, another 142 cops died in 2014 and 34 policemen have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty this year.

Murders in other incidents
As many as 112 people have been killed for various other motives this year. Of them, 55 were murdered over personal motive, 18 in dacoity and robbery incidents and 12 in bomb blasts.

Rise in street crimes
The report says the cases of dacoity, robbery and street crimes have been increasing during the operation, with 421 cases registered in 2014, and another 595 cases reported this year, showing an increase of 174 cases. The report says that there is a decrease in kidnappings for ransom but extortion cases have increased slightly.

Encounters
Since the start of the operation, 2,721 encounters have taken place in which 1,470 gangs have been busted, and 198 alleged terrorists, 37 kidnappers, 10 extortionists and 660 dacoits killed.
Moreover, 1,579 suspected murderers, 552 terrorists, 108 kidnappers, 488 extortionists, 2,470 dacoits and 18,718 people involved in petty crimes have been arrested in the past 19 months.
Those arrested include suspected target killers and militants belonging to banned outfits, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The operation was launched after the year 2013 witnessed a sharp increase in target killings and other heinous crimes.