Karachi police kill suspect in alleged encounter over six-year-old girl's murder

The police on Thursday killed a man suspected of kidnapping and murdering a six-year-old girl in an alleged encounter in Karachi's Jackson area. The girl, identified as a resident of Baba Bhit Island, had gone missing a day ago. Her body was found in the bushes near Kachhi Line in Manora today According to police, investigators obtained CCTV footage from multiple locations during the probe into the kidnapping and murder. The footage allegedly showed the suspect wearing a red cap, a black-and-white shirt and blue jeans while carrying a sack on his shoulder at the jetty. Read: Girl found dead in tuition centre washroom Police said the footage also showed him boarding a launch with the sack, which allegedly contained the girl's body. Jackson Station House Officer (SHO) Inayatullah Marwat said the suspect was identified through the CCTV footage, after which police launched a search operation. He said police later received information from intelligence sources that a man matching the suspect's description was present near Mubarak Masjid Street along the seafront. A police party reached the spot, where the suspect allegedly opened fire after seeing the officers. Police returned fire, critically injuring the suspect, who later died. A weapon was recovered from his possession, according to the SHO. He added that a team was summoned from the Crime Scene Unit to collect evidence before taking the body to Civil Hospital Karachi for legal formalities. SHO Marwat said a separate case had been registered over the alleged encounter, while legal and forensic proceedings were under way. The investigation into the girl's kidnapping and murder was continuing in light of CCTV footage, medico-legal, forensic, technical and other available evidence, he added. Also Read: Child's brutal rape, murder shakes the city Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar praised the Keamari police for making progress in the investigation and for killing the absconding suspect in the alleged police encounter. According to a spokesperson, the home minister commended Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police Singhar Ali Malik and his team for their efforts. Lanjar said crimes against innocent children were highly condemnable and directed authorities to utilise all available resources to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law. He also directed investigators to complete the probe on merit by examining all available evidence, including CCTV footage, medico-legal findings, forensic evidence, technical data and other material. The home minister said the possible involvement and role of the deceased suspect in the kidnapping and murder case should be determined based on concrete evidence.

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