Two policemen shot dead at picket near Data Darbar

The assailants leave the scene on foot despite the presence of more police.

LAHORE:

Two police constables were killed by three unidentified men at a Tape Road picket near Data Darbar on Sunday morning.

Constables Abdul Razzaq, 38, and Sajjad Hussain, 25, had asked the three men, approaching them from Data Darbar side, to identify themselves when they opened fire, killing the officials on the spot.

The accused escaped from the scene despite the presence of five more police officials in the vicinity.

Sources said Aleem Abbass, Ghulam Muhammad and Imran of the Muhafiz Squad were patrolling the Kacha Rasheed Road on motorcycles and Assistant Sub Inspector Nazir Ahmad and Constable Iman Ullah were on duty at the other end of the Tape Road.

ASI Nazir, the complainant in an FIR registered after the case, said the gunshots were so unexpected he and a colleague quickly hid themselves in a nearby street. He said when they came out after a few minutes they found out that their colleagues had been murdered.

An eyewitness speaking on condition of anonymity said the three men opened fire on the constables as soon as they were asked to stop and identify themselves.

He said one of the constables was armed but he did not get time to shoot back. He said of the 10 bullets fired by the men, five hit Sajjad and three Hussain.

He said other policemen gathered at the scene after about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, he said, the three men had conveniently walked away.

After Sunday’s incident, the number of policemen killed this year on duty at check posts had risen to five.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families after post mortem examination. Funeral prayers were offered at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines. The inspector general, the capital city police officer and the deputy inspector general (operations) were present.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.