Staff Report

KARACHI: At least 20 people, including four policemen, were killed and more than 50 wounded as police and frontier Constabulary (FC) forces continued their operation in restive Lyari area for the third consecutive day on Sunday.

In retaliation, two suspected gangsters were also killed.

According to reports, around 2, 000 police and FC men are taking part in the operation started on Friday.

Police say five people were killed and eight others were wounded in today’s gun battle.

Heavy exchange of fire between criminals and police contingents is going on since Friday, confining area residents inside their homes amid shortage of medication and food items.

A key gangster of the area has been killed as the government has ordered early completion of the action.

Cordoning off entry and exit points of Lyari and adjoining areas, police have started conducting raids to capture bigwigs of banned People’s Amn Committee (PAC), including Sardar Aziz Baloch, Habib Jan, Ustad Taju, Zafar Baloch, Shahid Rehman, Umar Kachi, Jabbar alias Jhengo, Wasi Ullah Lakho and Baba Ladla.

Sporadic firing incidents caused tension in different areas, keeping the entire locality shut as rockets, hand grenades and automatic weapons were used by criminals against police parties.

SHO Civil Line Fawwad Khan and a police constable, Malik Tasawar, were killed and five other police officials were injured when unknown culprits hurled a hand grenade and opened fire on them.

The SHO belongs to Chemkani area of Peshawar where his funeral prayer will be offered today.

The police say gangsters are using Russian-made arms and steel bullets, which are also harming armoured vehicles.

In a rocket attack, five people, including a cameraman, were injured. They were shifted to Civil Hospital.

On the other hand, President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned Nabeel Gabool to the presidency.

Sources say Gabool will brief the president about the current situation in the troubled Lyari. SAMAA