Rangers on Saturday announced 2.5 million rupees reward on information leading to the arrest of suspects wanted in connection with an armed attack on paramilitary soldiers in Ittehad Town area of Karachi the other day.
On Friday, unknown gunmen killed four paramilitary soldiers as they guarded a mosque in volatile mega city of Karachi. The killers, on three motorcycles, opened fire on the paramilitary Rangers outside Abu Hurairah mosque in Ittehad Town and escaped from the scene.
In an ongoing probe of the incident, Rangers have announced reward of 2.5 million rupees on information leading to arrest of culprits. The authorities have urged the citizens to call on Rangers helpline in this regard and ensure that identity of the person will be kept secret.
Officials suggested that the attackers intended to target the mosque during Friday prayers, when some 500 people were inside and in the adjoining madrassa (religious seminary).
“Perhaps the mosque and the affiliated madrassa were the target of the terrorists,” Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar told media at the spot. “But our people defied them and embraced martyrdom,” he said. The Rangers as well as the police have been engaged in a three-year-long anti-militant and crime operation in Karachi and come under attack by militants frequently.
In March, a suicide bomber riding on a motorcycle rammed into a Rangers patrol van killing four soldiers. Since January, 79 policemen have been gunned down in different parts of the city.