Robber, alleged rapist killed in police encounter

A complainant in robbery, gang rape case identifies suspect

OKARA:

One of the robbers who was allegedly involved in the gang rape a woman during a robbery in Ada Salehwal area a few weeks back, was killed in an police encounter on Thursday.

The suspect, along with his accomplices, had committed a carrying out a robbery within the limits of Saddar Depalpur.

The details revealed that a few weeks ago, 10 robbers had mugged a house in Ada Salehwal area and a woman was gang-raped by four robbers. They managed to escape after the incident.

Taking notice of the incident, the Punjab chief minister had sought a report from RPO Sahiwal and issued instructions to arrest the accused as soon as possible.

On this, Okara DPO had formed three different teams for the arrest of the accused and an experienced police inspector Muhammad Imran was posted at Saddar Depalpur police station.

Police received tip-off that a gang of robbers was carrying out a robbery at the Fakhr Town area in Depalpur. On this, a heavy contingent of the police rushed to arrest the robbers. The suspects opened indiscriminate fire as soon as they saw the police party. Police said a robber identified as Akram Sheikh, a resident of Patoki, was shot dead in the exchange of fire.

Saleem, a plaintiff in another case of robbery and gang rape, identified the robber who was killed. Police have been conducting raids to arrest his accomplices.

Ten armed robbers reportedly looted two houses in Adda Sahiwal area of Okara, where four of them allegedly raped a woman the wee hours of Monday.

The incident took place in the jurisdiction of Depalpur Saddar police station.

Police officials said that the robbers looted millions of rupees, gold jewellery and other valuables and four of them also raped a woman in a house.

Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar sought a report from Sahiwal Regional Police Officer (RPO) Tariq Abbas Qureshi.

The RPO along with Okara DPO Omar Saeed Malik reached the spot and formed seven police teams to arrest the accused.

During the robbery at the house of Khalid, armed robbers held the members of family hostage at gunpoint and looted cash and valuables.

During the incident, four robbers also allegedly raped Khalid’s wife.

Several other rape cases have been reported in Okara.

On June 8, police registered rape cases of a woman, a teenage girl and a minor boy in various areas of Okara.

In Chak 24D, Mohammad Younis reportedly raped a woman of the village at gunpoint. Police registered a case on the complaint of the victim’s husband Mohammad Siddique.

In the suburban town of Bonga Kharak Singh, a teenaged girl was raped at gunpoint by Mohammad Asghar, son of Fazil. The accused is a resident of the same area and an armed accomplice of his reportedly guarded the place during the crime. Chochak police registered a case on Abdul Rehman’s complaint and arrested the accused within 12 hours after District Police Officer Omar Saeed Malik took notice of the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2020.