Two cops injured in alleged encounter

KARACHI: Two police officials were injured during an alleged police encounter at SITE Super Highway on Monday night. The suspect, who allegedly opened fire at the police, managed to escape but left behind a motorcycle. The injured police officials, said to be in critical condition, were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where they received first aid, and were then transferred to Aga Khan University Hospital on the directives of Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur.

Bahadur said that Constable Abid, son of Ali Bakhsh, and Constable Tariq, son of Ghulam Qadir, have been injured. He said that incidents of theft had increased at the Super Highway, Sabzi Mandi area and police had increased their patrol in efforts to curb them. According to the SSP, four police officials riding two motorcycles were patrolling the area when they saw four suspicious persons on two motorcycles. The police signalled them to stop but they did not adhere and the police began chasing them. The suspects then opened fire at the police officials who attempted to overtake them. Two police officials were injured while the other two police officials opened retaliatory fire at the suspects who managed to escape, benefitting from the dark hour and the desolate area.



SSP Irfan Bahadur said that the motorcycle left behind by the suspects was snatched at gunpoint from the vicinity of Jamshed Quarters on April 3. He added that raids were being conducted and as per the police's information, the suspects are believed to be of Afghan origin.

According to the SSP, Abid sustained bullet injuries in the head and arm while Tariq sustained bullet injuries in the lower part of his body. The injured constables are cousins and are residents of Memon Goth. Tariq has four brothers one of whom is a constable at Memon Goth Police Station.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2019.