Karachi Three suspected members of a banned outfit and a target killer were gunned down by police in two separate shootouts on Tuesday. A Special Investigation Unit team, after being tipped-off about the presence of notorious terrorist Saeedul Islam Bengali alias Aziz Jaan in Chakra Goth, Korangi, was deployed at the crossing there for snap checking vehicles, when at 5am it signaled four suspicious men riding two motorcycles to stop. The men riding the motorcycles opened fire on the police, and the latter retaliated. SIU Karachi chief SSP Mohammad Farooq Awan said three of the men, Mohammed Saleem alias Guru, Abdul Shakoor and Ali Ahmed alias Mendak, were injured in firing while the fourth one, their leader Saeedul Islam Bengali, managed to escape. He added that the three injured terrorists later died at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The official said Bengali was a member of a banned outfit. He had remained the Punjabi Taliban chief in Korangi and was also earlier affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. He was trained in Afghanistan. The three terrorists killed in the shootout were involved in robberies, target killings and other crimes. They were identified with the help of CCTV footage of recent bank heists. In 2014, Bengali and the other men robbed a UBL Bank branch in Korangi, killing two security guards, Mohammad Shafee and Dilshad, and walking away with Rs2 million. The police had arrested Bengali following the robbery hand he had confessed to his involvement in the crime and handing over the looted money to his Taliban leaders, but he later granted bail by a court. Bengali and his accomplices had then robbed an HBL Bank branch in Korangi on April 5, where they had fired gunshots at the guards and looted Rs1 million. Police had arrested a man named Bilal in the case, and the gang later found out about a police informant, Abdul Rehman, and killed him. On October 15, Bengali and his men had robbed Rs5 million from a Meezan Bank branch in Landhi and also snatched cell phones and watches from staff there including the manager. They had also fired gunshots, killing their own accomplice, Jawed alias Kajree. The SSP the gang was also involved in extortion and kidnapping for ransom cases. The terrorists were found in possession of three TT pistols and snatched cell phones and their motorcycle was also a stolen one.
‘Target killer’ shot dead An alleged target killer was gunned down in an encounter with police in Mominabad. SSP West Azfar Mahesar said after being tipped-off about the presence of Lyari-based gangsters in Faqeer Colony, police conducted a raid there and in the ensuing shootout, arrested Tahir alias Mullah in an injured condition while his associates escaped. Tahir later expired at the Civil Hospital. He was found in possession of weapons. The official said Tahir was the leader of a gang of extortionists and also involved in target killings and kidnappings for ransom. He was affiliated with Lyari’s Uzair Baloch group. He was wanted by the Pak Colony, SITE and Shershah police in over 50 cases of extortion, murders, and robberies.
Two ‘target killers’ held Two suspected target killers were arrested in a raid conducted by the Brigade police. SSP East Jawed Jiskani said Qaiser alias Kaka and Rizwan Hussain alias Pappu were arrested after a shootout in which both men were injured. He added that the two men were involved in target killing, extortion and other criminal cases and now living with new identities and political affiliation. They were found in possession of 9mm and TT pistols, ammunition, a snatched motorcycle, and fake identity cards. The SSP their previous criminal records were found at the Brigade police station and more were being collected from other police stations. They have been booked under sections 302, 392 and 365 of the PPC.
