Noor Mohammed, alias Baba Ladla – Rehman Dakait’s right-hand man - was critically injured in fierce bouts of fresh gun battles between the Rehman Dakait and Ghaffar Zikri gangs in Lyari. The latest escalation in the gang war began on Monday night, continuing on to Tuesday, which was when Ladla was shot. Some late reports suggest that Ladla, one of the central characters of the Lyari gang-war, had succumbed to his wounds.
The fresh violence did, however, claim the lives of five innocent citizens, including a minor.
Area sources said that the gang-war started late Monday night when members of Dakait’s gang came from Gul Mohammed Lane area and tried to capture the Edu Lane area, which is under the hold of Ghaffar Zikri.
On seeing Dakait’s men, Zikri’s gang opened fire. Heavy retaliation was faced by the Rehman Dakait group and three members, including Ghulam Qadir, were killed. Abdul Majeed of the Zikri group was also killed in the gang-war.
Officials said that a heavy contingent of Lyari Town Police, under the supervision of SSP Raja Umer Khitab, brought the situation under control later. However, on Tuesday afternoon, Dakait’s close aide, Noor Mohammed alias Baba Ladla, along with Faisal Pathan and others, once again tried to enter Edu Lane from Ali Mohammed Mohallah.
It was maintained that the aides of Ghaffar Zikri had established trenches in Edu Lane and when they saw the aides of Rehman Dakait under the supervision of Baba Ladla they attacked them with the latest weapons and hand grenades. Baba Ladla and his accomplices retaliated, and injured passers-by as a result.
As soon as the rumour of Ladla’s death spread, the whole of Lyari was engulfed in flames. The aides of Rehman Dakait started aerial firing and lobbed hand grenades to have the area completely shut down.
Sources said that the aides of Rehman Dakait encircled the entire Lyari area and, at various intervals, started firing
in Nava Lane, Sheedi Village Road, Rexcer Lane, Kalakot, Singo Lane, Cheel Chowk. They also attacked an Armoured Personal Carrier (APC) with hand grenades at Cheel Chowk.
The gangsters also attacked Slaughter House Road, Jahanabad, Dhobi Gath, Lahoo Bridge, and areas of Pak Colony.
SSP Lyari Town Raja Omer Khitaab said that, as soon as they were informed that the gang-war violence had escalated again in Edu Lane, he, along with the police mobiles of his town, conducted a raid and a heavy gun battle followed.
SSP Khitaab said that the gangsters attacked police vehicles, and, after hours of crossfire, they finally captured Edu Lane, including the trenches which the Zikri and Dakait’s men had established on the roads going towards their areas.
Nine people were injured, while one was killed, the SSP said, adding that there were strong reports of Baba Ladla’s death.
Till filing of this report, the vicinity of Lyari resembled a war zone; the entire area was plunged in darkness.
Ladla’s history: Noor Mohammed, alias Baba Ladla, is the central commander of Rehman Dakait’s group. He has complete operational control of Daikat’s gang. Rehman Dakait gives his instructions to Ladla, who then is in charge of execution.
The business of extortion, kidnapping for ransom and the smuggling of Iranian oil into Karachi, which are the most lucrative sources of income for the gang, are looked after by Ladla.
When Rehman was arrested by police in 2006, Ladla controlled the gang in his absence. In fact, Ladla played a pivotal role in arranging Dakait’s escape from police custody a little while later.
