KARACHI, July 12: A man allegedly involved in numerous cases of kidnapping for ransom and murder was gunned down in what the police claimed to be an 'encounter' in Gadap Town, in the outskirts of the city.

The police said Mashooq Brohi was notorious for kidnapping for ransom and he had been operating for the past 15 years. Besides Karachi, his criminal activities spread to districts Badin, Dadu and Thatta while he mostly operated and organized his gang in Sakran and Hub districts of Balochistan. The police failed to arrest him during the past 15 years.

City police chief Niaz Siddiqui said: "Mashooq Brohi, a native of Sanghar, was involved in more than 200 cases of kidnapping for ransom, murder, and other heinous crimes across Sindh. Although Brohi had been operating for the past 10-15 years, he became more active since 2003 and the Sindh government announced Rs3 million as head-money on Brohi."

Narrating the episode of his death, Mr Siddiqui said the Lyari Task Force of the police headed by SP Aslam Khan got a tip-off that Mashooq Brohi with his accomplices was on his way to Karachi from Sakran via Gadap to kidnap a trader.

Having received the information, he said, a heavy contingent of police reached Gadap Town, bordering Balochistan, and took position there. As the police team spotted the suspected Honda City (ADG-648), they signalled it to stop. Instead, the occupants of the car fired at the police. The police returned fire. As a result, one occupant of the car received multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot. However, his three accomplices managed to run away, he added.

Mr Siddiqui said the police seized the car stolen in Karachi, a Kalashnikov rifle, a repeater gun and a 9mm pistol. He said Brohi was connected with another notorious criminal, Rustam, who was in jail.

About the escape of three of his accomplices, he said he did not think they could reorganize the gang. "We have eliminated their ringleader, which is a massive dent to the gang and we hope they will not survive without him," he asserted.

To a question, the city police chief said: "I think those three members who ran away are active members of the Brohi gang." He said he hoped the elimination of a notorious criminal would help reduce the incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

According to a handout issued by Sindh Information Department, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui has praised the police team who took part in the shootout in which Mashooq Brohi was killed. He said that the Sindh government had already announced a head money of Rs5 million for Brohi and in addition Rs1 million would be given to the Lyari Task Force and SP Omar Shahid for their bravery. He announced one-step promotion for the low ranking officials who took part in the operation.

DIG for Operations Mushtaq Shah, Chief of Citizens-Police Liaison Committee Sharfuddin Memon, DIG Investigation Zone-II Mir Zubair Mehmood, SP Omar Shahid, SP Aslam Khan, DSP Irfan Bahadur and other officials were also present.

According to the CPLC, Haji Mashooq Brohi was named in 14 FIRs for kidnapping for ransom from January 2003 to June 2006. Those wanted for their links with the Haji Mashooq Brohi gang are Arshad alias Pappu, Ajab Rind, Fateh Rind, Shahnawaz, Imam Bux, Zeeshan Burger, and Sufyan. Talib Rind, Waris and Gul Hasan of Brohi's gang had already been killed in shootouts with police.

In 14 cases, the numbers of captive were 26 and Brohi had received altogether about Rs50 million in ransom for the release of kidnap victims. Since January this year, at least 13 cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered. Of them, five cases were still pending and negotiations with the kidnappers to get the victims released were in progress, the CPLC said.