Three ‘bandits killed in encounter’
Three alleged bandits were killed in a “police encounter” near the River Sutlej on Monday.
According to police sources, one alleged bandit was identified as Abdul Majeed, head of the Khapra Gang, who was a symbol of fear in South Punjab.
Abdul Majeed was allegedly involved in various heinous crimes, including robbery and murder, and was wanted by several police stations in South Punjab.
The other two alleged robbers had not been identified yet. According to the details of the police encounter, Police Station Sama Satta received information that “the famous dacoit Abdul Majeed, along with seven or eight of his accomplices” had been moving towards a hotel from the River Sutlej.
Police station Sama Satta blocked the street adjacent to the hotel.
The robbers allegedly started firing at the police. The police responded by firing from a defensive position. The four alleged bandits moved back towards the river on two motorcycles.
After the firing stopped, “the police reached the street and found three criminals dead”.
The weapons and motorcycles were also taken into custody by the police.
Police teams were searching for the accomplices.
According to a police spokesman, Amir Nazir, the alleged bandits were killed by the firing of their own colleagues.
In a different development, DPO Ibadat Nisar suspended SHO Farhan Hussain and four other policemen and ordered an inquiry against them after an accused Sagheer died in the custody of the Civil Lines Police.
The relatives of Sagheer staged a protest demonstration against the police at the Fuwara Chowk and blocked the road by burning tires.
Sagheer was arrested by police on charges of stealing mobile data.
The relatives of Sagheer alleged that the police had illegally detained 18 of their people.
The family members claimed that the body of Sagheer was not yet handed over to them, nor were the police releasing their people who, they alleged, police had illegally detained.
The protesters appealed to the chief minister and the IGP to give them justice. After the police assured the protestors of action, they ended their protest.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2023.