Good to see some action against terrorists hiding in Sohrab Goth. The threat of talibanization is very real if left unchecked.
Two cops die in fierce gun battle with militants
Two cops die in fierce gun battle with militants
30 suspects arrested, large number of latest weapons seized
Friday, January 16, 2009
By Salis bin Perwaiz
Karachi
A fierce gun-battle erupted between militants belonging to Jundullah and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the personnel of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) and an intelligence agency, when the latter raided their hideout in Sohrab Goth. Two policemen were killed, while eight personnel including AVCC chief SSP Farooq Awan and two senior officers of the intelligence agency were injured in the shootout that lasted for about two hours.
Some 30 suspects claimed to have links with the TTP and other militant groups were rounded up and a huge quantity of latest weapons and ammunition was recovered during the operation.
Law-enforcement personnel who took part in the shootout said that they had received a tip that militants belonging to various organisations were staying at a rest house near Afghan Basti opposite Al-Asif Square. A team comprising senior officers and agency sleuths moved towards the spot along with a huge contingent of police and intelligence personnel.
Upon seeing the police the militants opened indiscriminate fire. Head Constable Akhtar Munir and Constable Fayyaz Ahmed were killed on the spot, while SSP Mohammed Farooq Awan, two senior personnel of the intelligence agency Tariq and Asad, ASI Ashfaq Khattak, ASI Ajmair, PC Muzzafar, HC Mumtaz, PC Rashid, PC Mudassir and others sustained injuries.
The raiding party cordoned off the entire area and a heavy gun-battle ensued, while reinforcement was sought from headquarters following which a heavy contingent of Rangers and the personnel of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and other units reached the place.
Two hours after the shootout had begun, law-enforcement personnel rounded up more than 30 suspects belonging to various militant outfits along with a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. The injured and the killed personnel were shifted to the Aga Khan Hospital, where the condition of the injured was said to be stable.
**A senior officer said on condition of anonymity that the officers of AVCC and intelligence agency had been gathering details of various militant outfits operating in the city. These militants were involved in kidnapping industrialists to fund organisations fighting in Waziristan and Swat. On November 13 last year, militants of TTP and Jundullah had kidnapped Iranian Consul General Hashmatullah from Peshawar after killing his driver Sajjad. Later, they called the Iranian Consulate and also sent an email, demanding Rs50 million in ransom for Hashmatullah’s release. It was tipped that the militants had shifted him to Karachi and demanded the payment of ransom in the city.
According to the officer, intelligence agencies started tracing calls and increased their informer network during which it was confirmed that Hashmatullah was not brought to Karachi. During investigations it came to their knowledge that some militants belonging to TTP were present in Sohrab Goth to generate funds for their outfits.
**
Consequently, they planted informers who came to know that the militants had captured a rest house near the Aga Malik Hotel situated opposite Al-Asif Square. A joint AVCC-intelligence raid was planned. A day before the raid, the police had arrested two Afghan suspects from the F.B. Industrial Area. Ammunition and SIMs of various cellular companies were recovered from them. During interrogation they also confirmed the presence of militants at Sohrab Goth, along with a huge quantity of arms.
During the raid early Thursday morning, a couple of senior officers of the raiding party moved towards the rest house in a white Toyota Corolla car to confirm the place. Upon reaching near the rest house, two people sitting at the gate came to them and asked them why they were there. During this, conversation some armed people appeared on the rooftop and pointed weapons at the officers’ car. The raiding team was alerted to move towards the place after receiving a missed call from the team. Before the latter could come in, however, militants on the rooftop opened indiscriminate fire at the Toyota Corolla, injuring the officers. Later, a huge contingent of police and intelligence personnel rushed to the place and a fierce gun-battle ensued. None of the militants was injured and most of them managed to escape. The police, however, rounded up some suspects belonging to the Taliban. During the search of the rest house the police also recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. Further investigation was under way.