A taxi driver was critically injured when police opened fire at him in Khanpur on Saturday morning.
Police termed it an ‘encounter’ with carjackers while the injured driver claimed he was the owner of a taxi and was chasing three passengers who fled without paying the fare.
According to the version of the Khanpur police, they received an intelligence report about a car stolen from Rawalpindi and the suspected carjackers heading to Haripur city. Police added they then approached a suspicious car, but its four occupants attempted to flee.
In order to stop them from escaping, police opened fire, injuring one person while the other three escaped. The injured man was subsequently arrested and shifted to Khanpur Hospital where he was identified as Noor Alam, son of Zahid of Lambi Dheri village in Abbottabad.
Speaking to journalists, the injured man contested police claims, saying he was not a carjacker and drove a taxi for a living. He told the media three unidentified men hired his car to go to Haripur for Rs1,700 but when they reached Khanpur Dam, the men stopped the car after seeing the police and started fleeing.
“When I ran after them for the fare, police opened fire at me, injuring me severely,” said Alam, adding he did not even know who the three men were. The injured driver was later referred to District Headquarters Hospital, Haripur in critical condition as his legs were bleeding profusely, said doctors.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2014.
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