KARACHI – At least dozen suspect gangsters in Shanti Nagar, Dalmia locality, within the limits of Aziz Bhatti police station, were picked up in an operation after exchange of fire between the police and the gangsters here on Monday. According to details, operation was conducted when gunmen opened fire at the police personnel when area police reached to disperse the protestors. The protesters were mostly women and children who were shouting slogans against the police’s arresting of the alleged gangsters two days back. Enraged protesters tried to suspend traffic and commercial activities in the surroundings of Dalmia when police reached and disperse the mob by using teargas and also resorted to aerial firing upon which unknown gangsters resorted to indiscriminate firing on the police party. Following the exchange of fire, police carried out the search operation to nab the gangsters and took more than a dozen suspects into custody.DSP Nasir Lodhi said that the police was trying to maintain the law and order situation when gunmen resorted to firing on the police which lead to the start of search operation in the area.He said that police personnel were on the ground who narrowly escaped the attack as later further contingent of the law enforcers were called on the scene to hunt the gangsters. Police managed to nab about half dozen suspects and recovered weapons from their possession. DSP Lodhi said that the suspects were apprehended in the current and previous raids belonging to the gangster groups. The names of the suspects who were apprehended during the operation were not disclosed while further investigation was underway. Meanwhile, an alleged target killer belonging to the outlawed religious organisation was apprehended during a raid conducted on a tip-off in Nazimabad No 3. According to Nazimabad police officials, the suspect identified as Shakeel Abbas was affiliated with the outlawed Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan and during initial course of interrogation, he confessed to have killing at least ten men on sectarian grounds including outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan’s central leader Maulana Ghaffoor Nadeem and his son Mavia. Separately, Khawaja Ajmair Nagri police claimed to have apprehended two alleged extortionists identified as Mazhar and Tehseen. Police officials said that the suspects were arrested when they were arrived to collect the extortion money from the trader, namely Shaukat. In Orangi Town, two suspects, namely Gul Muhammad and Iqbal were apprehended within the limits of Pirabad police station. Police officials said that the suspects were involved in several cases of murder and robberies, adding that two pistols were also recovered from their possession. Shah Faisal police also arrested a young woman, namely Shazia and her companion Saeed when they were trying to rob the house of a person namely Zafar in Shah Faisal Colony No 5. Police said that police reached the site after the residents informed them about the presence of suspects at Zafar’s house.