With the targeted operation entering its ninth month, the law-enforcement agencies appear to have become increasingly aggressive in chasing suspected criminals and engaging them in deadly ‘encounters’. 360 suspects killed in shootouts in the past 8 months. — one of the highest figures in the city’s ‘encounter history’.
The police themselves lost 60 of their men in the line of duty who were mostly targeted when they were on patrol though a few were killed in encounters with militants, bandits, gangsters and other criminals.
Figures released by the Karachi police to share their ‘performance’ from Sept 5, 2013 to May 5, 2014 showed a total of 1,277 ‘encounters’ leading to the arrest of some 1,000 ‘heinous crime’ suspects and killing of 253 others.
Suspects gunned down by paramilitary Rangers numbered 115.
The suspects were wanted in ‘heinous crimes’ from murders to ‘terrorism acts’ and kidnapping for ransom to extortion.
