3 robbers killed by cops in ‘staged’ encounter

Police said they were chasing the men, locals say cops had them in custody.

FAISALABAD:

Three bandits were killed in an alleged police encounter on Risal-e-Wala Road on Sunday night, while residents have said that the men were in police custody for over a week.

According to police officials, four armed motor cyclists stole cash and cell phones from Muhammad Anees. Anees was travelling in his car near Chartered Bank Circular Road when he was held at gun point and robbed. Police officials claimed that the bandits also stole Rs13,000 and a cell phone from another civilian before fleeing the scene.

On receiving information, a police contingent headed by Jhang Bazar Station House Officer (SHO) Farrukh Waheed, chased the robbers on the road. The bandits opened indiscriminate fire on the police officials, who responded in kind.

The encounter resulted in the death of three outlaws who have subsequently been identified as Bilal, Arshad and Yasir.

The fourth robber escaped the scene and police officials are searching for his whereabouts. “There was a shoot out and the three men were killed before we could bring them to justice,” SHO Waheed said.

However, independent sources claimed that the accused were in police custody for over a week and were shot in a staged encounter.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2011.