Two cops suspended over citizen’s alleged encounter

Police open inquiry after family says ‘robber’ was shot dead in fake encounter

KARACHI:

The additional SHO and a constable of the Korangi Industrial Area Police Station were suspended on Thursday over the killing of a citizen in an alleged encounter a day prior.

According to Landhi SP Shah Nawaz Chachar, who is leading the internal inquiry against the accused officers, all personnel involved in the killing of a youngster, identified as Shehzad Chandio, have been suspended. Two policemen, Additional SHO Subinspector Siraj Khattak and Constable Muhammad Khan, had been suspended till the filing of this report.

Earlier on Wednesday, the police had issued a statement claiming that an unidentified robber was shot dead in an exchange of fire in Mehran Town Sector 6F within the remits of Korangi Industrial Area Police Station. The statement added that a companion of the deceased had managed to escape and that a TT Pistol and a stolen motorcycle were confiscated. The deceased was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and later to the morgue pending identification.

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Aggrieved family members identified the deceased as Shehzad Chandio and staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday night, compelling the police to open an internal inquiry. They alleged that Chandio was shot dead in a fake encounter and refused to carry out funeral rites demanding action against the policemen involved.

Acting on directives from the higher ups, SP Chachar reached KPC late at night and assured the protestors of a comprehensive inquiry within 48 hours. He told the media that SHO Khattak and at least two other policemen have been suspended.

The police had initially claimed that police personnel were carrying out routine patrolling in the area when two suspects on motorcycle saw the cops approaching and opened fire at them. The cops opened retaliatory fire and one suspect was shot dead, the police had said, adding that a case was lodged and further probe was underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2021.