Cop’s murder suspect killed in Korangi ‘shootout’

A suspected hitman who escaped from custody after murdering a policeman but was arrested a day later was killed in a shootout with his associates in the Korangi area on Monday morning.

Abdul Maalik Bengali died from gunshots which he suffered when Korangi Industrial Area police engaged two suspects in an encounter near TCF Godown.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Noman Siddiqui of the Korangi district said Rangers soldiers had arrested Bengali on Sunday and handed him over to the police for legal action.

During the interrogation, the suspect had disclosed that after killing the Constable Rafiq on EBM Causeway in Korangi, he along with anther accused, Imtiaz Rind, had gone to a hideout of notorious criminal Faisal Bengali in Korangi, where they had a meeting and decided to take shelter in a slum area.

They had also identified three spots, including the TCF Godown area, for further meetings. SSP Siddiqui said that acting on the information, an investigation team, along with the suspect, raided the spot near TCF Godown, which was also a hideout of Faisal Bengali, on Monday morning.

To avoid arrest, Faisal Bengali and Imtiaz Rind opened fire, which was returned by the police. In the crossfire, Maalik Bengali and two other suspects were injured. However, Faisal and Rind managed to escape from the scene, taking advantage of narrow lanes.

The police transported the injured to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead. During the search of the hideout, the police found the wallet of the slain constable, Rafiq. Raids are underway to arrest the two men on the run.

On Sunday, the Sindh Rangers spokesperson said in a statement that the paramilitary force conducted a raid following a tip-off and, after resistance, arrested Maalik Bengali. He was shifted to the Rangers headquarters.  On September 30, the suspect and his associate had managed to escape after killing Constable Rafiq in a car on EBM Causeway.

Three policemen – two constables and a station investigation officer (SIO) of the Korangi Industrial Area police – were bringing back Bengali and Imtiaz, both charged with murdering Head Constable Yousuf Lodhi on September 20 – from an anti-terrorism court hearing in the SIO’s private vehicle.

As they were driving along the causeway, the suspects – who officials confirmed were not handcuffed – opened fire in the car. In the shooting, Constable Rafiq suffered injuries that later proved fatal, while Constable Daim is still under treatment at Jinnah Hospital.