Notorious gangster killed in encounter with Keamari police

An alleged notorious gangster was killed in a shootout with police in the Old Golimar area late on Thursday night.

District Keamari senior superintendent of police (SSP) Arif Aslam Rao said that Zain alias Rehan, a key commander of a gang involved in criminal activities and drug peddling, was killed during an operation conducted on a tip-off from an intelligence agency.

Rao added that police raided to arrest Zain along with his accomplice in Jehanabad, however the suspects started firing while attempting to escape. The officer said that constable Naveed Shah, posted in the Pak Colony police station, was injured and a police vehicle was damaged in the firing.

In the retaliatory fire, the SSP said, Zain was killed while his accomplice managed to escape. He said that a 9mm pistol, bullets and a stolen motorcycle were recovered from the suspect’s possession.

According to the SSP, the suspect was a highly wanted criminal and police as well intelligence agencies were making efforts for a long time to nab him. The suspect was the main leader of the drug peddling network of a gang namely “Riasat Group” in the Old Golimar and adjoining areas, he added.

The officer said that the suspect provided financial assistance to alleged gangsters - Jamil Changa, Bilal Pappu, Saleem Chocolatey and Sajid Dacoit - in purchasing weapons with the money received from drug trafficking.

Moreover, he added, the suspect was involved in providing shelter to the gang’s shooters and in carrying out attacks on rival gangsters, police and Rangers.

The SSP said that the suspect was wanted for the murders of policeman Farooq and rival gang members Kashif, Ashiq, Zahid alias Dopati, Azad alias Sajid Patra and Riaz.