Two killed, one held after ‘encounter’

Relatives claim deceased were innocent and unarmed

DIJKOT:

Two suspected robbers were fatally shot by the police while attempting to escape after robbing a citizen who had withdrawn money from an ATM.

Another suspect was apprehended during the incident.

The bodies were transferred to the Allied Hospital for post-mortem examination.

However, the relatives of the deceased individuals staged a protest demonstration on a road, accusing the police of extrajudicial killings and claiming that the victims were innocent and had refused to comply with the demands of the police.

According to the officials, Aqeel Shahzad was targeted by three armed men in a car on Sosan Road. The men intercepted him and snatched his money.

The citizen reported the incident to the police through the emergency helpline 15.

Acting on the report, teams from the Elite Madina Town Division and Dolphin Force People's Colony initiated a pursuit of the suspects.

A chase ensued, during which an exchange of fire took place between the police and the robbers, the police claimed.

Afzal, a resident of Sohailabad, Shahzad, a resident of D-Type Colony and Sohail Javed, a resident of Salimi Chowk allegedly opened fire at the police officials. In response, the police fired back, resulting in the deaths of Afzal and Shahzad inside the car. Sohail was apprehended.

Upon receiving the information, SP Madina Town Hafiz Kamran Asghar, DSP People's Colony, and the concerned SHO arrived at the hospital to oversee the legal procedure.

The relatives of the deceased claimed that Afzal and Shahzad were merely on their way to purchase breakfast and were unarmed at the time of the incident. They alleged during the protest that the police had staged a fake encounter.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2023.