KARACHI: Two suspects involved in kidnapping a five-year-old from Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority were shot dead early Saturday morning, according to the police.

The suspects, identified as Zaheer Mirza and Zaki, were gunned down near Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), and the Anti Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) were tipped off regarding the presence of the suspects near Kamran Chowrangi.

When the CPLC and AVCC teams started raiding the area, “the suspects Zaheer Mirza and Zaki tried to run away and also opened straight fire and in return fire, both kidnappers were killed”, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) AVCC Abdullah Ahmad.

Ransom money Rs 0.1 million, purse, and mobile phone of abductee’s mother were recovered from the possession of the suspects, said SSP Ahmad.

The suspects were involved in kidnapping a five-year-old and releasing him after receiving ransom payment of Rs0.3 million on Thursday.

The child was abducted “while returning home from school with his mother in a car from the jurisdiction of Darakhshan Police Station”, according to CPLC.

According to sources, the kidnappers had demanded Rs 150 million from the boy’s father. However, after CPLC intervened, kidnappers brought down the ransom demand to Rs0.3 million. At least 21 members of CPLC took part in the operation.

CPLC Chief Zubair Habib confirmed they did pay ransom for the minor’s release. He added they have managed to unearth 380 gangs over the past years.

Sources further added that before releasing the boy, kidnappers called police and Rangers personnel to different areas of the city, including North Nazimabad, Board Office, Shahra-e-Faisal, Sohrab Goth and Hyderi Market. The kidnappers then asked the security personnel to throw the ransom money in an area near Rashid Minhas Road.

Meanwhile three women were killed in separate incidents of violence in different localities of the metropolis on Saturday.

Police said that a woman was stabbed by robbers with sharp edged knife upon resistance during robbery in Block “H” of North Nazimabad area of Karachi.

Mentally retarded person identified as Kamran gunned down Aasia, wife of his elder brother in Parsi Colony Dhoraji, Karachi.

Armed robbers gunned down a woman Ambreen 35, upon resistance during a robbery in Soldier Bazaar.

Two sisters of AC Malir Asadullah Abbasi were injured in tanker-car collision in Defence Khayaban-e-Bahria.—INP