Rangers conducted search operation in some areas of Orangi Town in the wee hours on Tuesday by imposing partial curfew and detained over 200 persons. According to sources, the search operation was launched on the tip-off provided by the arrested persons that some miscreants involved in the recent targeted killings were hiding in these areas.
Acting upon the information, heavy contingents of Ranger including female personnel, commandos and police cordoned off different areas of Orangi Town including Faqir Colony, Omer Baloch Muhalla, Muscaty Colony, Preshan Chowk, Hazara Colony and Farid Colony at around 3:00am and started door-to-door search from 5:30 am which continued till 12:45pm.
Over 200 persons were detained in the operation, who were later shifted to unknown places for interrogation. Sources said that Rangers had identified some 45 criminals among the detainees who were said to be involved in the recent spate of target killings and recovered huge cache of weapons from their possession.
Following the recent spree of target killings, which claimed over 37 lives, the Sindh government granted special power to the Rangers to launch selective operation in several localities to maintain peace in the city, they said. According to eye-witnesses, these vicinities of Orangi Town were fully beleaguered and detained people were gathered at an open place for interrogation. They said the residents of these areas also staged protest against the search operation, accusing Rangers of detaining innocent people with no reason. They said the residents of these areas also accused the Rangers for not engaging female personnel in this operation, which raised disenchantment among them.
When contacted, the official spokesman dispelled the impression that the Rangers had not engaged female personnel in this operation, saying that female soldiers were involved in this door-to-door search operation. He expressed his inability to provide the exist number of arrests but confirmed that Rangers had made some arrests and recovered weapons as well. He further said that over 1500 personnel of rangers along with police officers took part in this search operation. Meanwhile, Khurram Waris, SP Orangi town, said the operation was launched by Pakistan Rangers and the Sindh police only provided assistance during the operation.