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Thursday March 28, 2024

Three policemen gunned down in Bingoria Goth

­CCTV footage shows four attackers wearing masks; police suspect involvement of al Qaeda’s subcontinent wing

By Salis bin Perwaiz
May 28, 2015
Karachi
Three policemen were gunned down in Bingoria Goth, Azizabad on Wednesday morning.
Police said sub-inspector Sikander and constables Arshad and Asif were deployed in Bingoria Goth’s mill area after receiving mugging complaints and they were instructed to conduct snap checking at night and early morning hours.
SP Liaquatabad Tahir Ahmed Noorani said an Azizabad police team under the supervision of SI Sikander was patrolling the area in a van when two to four masked men riding motorcycles stopped in front of their vehicle and fired gunshots.
The assailants also took away the policemen’s official sub-machine guns. The cops were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
They had suffered multiple bullet wounds to their upper torsos.
A senior official said the attackers had taken away all the spent bullet shells from the crime scene, but a live 9mm bullet was found.
He added that police had also acquired the footage of a CCTV camera installed at a nearby building.
“The footage showed that the attackers were wearing masks. Some of them were wearing pants and shirt and others shalwar kameez,” he added.
Police investigators said they suspected the involvement of banned outfits, particularly the recently formed al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent, in the attack.
Later, police and Rangers conducted a search operation in Bingoria Goth and its adjoining areas and rounded up some suspects for questioning.
The funeral prayers of the three policemen were offered at the police’s West headquarters.
Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sial, IGP Ghulam Hyder Jamali and other police officers attended their funeral.
The minister announced jobs for the heirs of the three police policemen and also ordered immediate payment of compensation money to their families.
He said the families would also be provided plots under the Bahria support package.
The minister sought a report from the IGP and directed him to ensure the arrest of the murderers as soon as possible.
Agencies add: Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Sayal during a visit to the Sindh Police headquarters on Wednesday said the appointment of Station House Officers across the province will be made on merit and their professional capabilities.
Addressing police officers during his visit, the home minister said no political consideration will be extended in matters pertaining to promotions and postings in the department.
He also assured that fresh inductions will also be made in the police department only on the basis of requisite criterion without any relief.
He said rapidly changing conditions and challenges being faced by the country, especially Sindh, required for increasing the capacity of the policemen.
Sayal also urged the policemen to play their role in building a public-friendly perception of their department. In this regard, he said, steps were also being taken to improve the interrogation and investigation techniques of police officers.
He all the officers who fail to meet their professional obligations or reported to have indulged in corrupt practices will be removed from their positions.
He said the Sindh government was committed in implementing reforms in the police department while trying to pay equal attention to community policing. He said the support of law-abiding citizens was necessary for the police and other law-enforcement agencies to fight terror.