Seven suspects killed, soldier hurt in Shah Latif operation

Rangers identify five of the seven suspects as LeJ militants;

cop who worked with target killers arrested

Seven alleged terrorists were shot dead and a paramilitary soldier injured in an operation conducted by the Sindh Rangers in the city’s Malir district early on Monday morning. 

A Rangers spokesman said paramilitary soldiers were deployed for a raid in Shah Latif Town after information was received about suspicious activity. As the soldiers moved in and cordoned off the area, the suspects opened fire at the team in a bid to escape.

In the ensuing shootout, four suspects were shot dead while the rest managed to flee. The paramilitary soldiers immediately launched a search operation in the vicinity to apprehend those who had escaped.

During the search, the Rangers team again came under fire at a location that was around 300 meters away from the hideout initially raided. Another gun battle ensued in which three more suspects were killed, while a paramilitary solider also suffered injuries. Automatic weapons and ammunition was recovered by the Rangers team. 

Identification 

As per the Rangers spokesman, five of the seven killed terror suspects have been identified as militants associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). 

Umer Hayat alias Qari: He worked closely with LeJ chief Asif alias Chotu and was involved in terrorist attacks as a facilitator who provided funds and weapons. 

The incidents he was involved in were the attack on Muharram processions in 2010; the Karachi Airport attack in 2014 and the Mehran Base attack of 2011.

Amir Ali Chaudhary: A bomb-maker who also had expertise in anti-drone technology, he was involved in the Karachi Airport attack and also planned to bomb the Karachi Central Jail.

The three other suspects were identified as Ijtabah Ahmed Feroze alias Salman alias Salman Javed, Mohammed Shakeel alias Burmi and Aqib Yousuf.

While details of their activities were not released, the three suspects were said to be involved in sectarian and other target killings and also in the attack on Pakistan Army soldiers. 

Dirty cop arrested   

The New Karachi Police arrested a policeman accused of facilitating target killers by hiding their weapons.

As per details, Constable Atif Meraj was appointed in 2011 and posted at the Gulshan-e-Maymar Police Station. 

He was arrested from a house near Pasha Clinic in Sector 11-D, New Karachi.

Police officials said a snatched motorcycle, three sub-machine guns, a G3 rifle, two 7mm rifles, an 8mm rifle, eight 30 bore pistols, a 9mm pistol and ammunition were found hidden in the house.