City witnesses surge in street crime, encounters

LAHORE:

In just one week (June 17-25), at least six police encounters took place in the provincial capital, resulting in the deaths of three suspected hardened criminals.

On Sunday, June 25, details revealed that a Factory Area Investigations Police team was taking a suspected proclaimed offender for the purpose of recovery.

Near Pir Darbar Defence Phase-VI, the police alleged that the suspect's accomplices attacked the police party in an attempt to free him. In the exchange of gunfire, the suspect sustained bullet injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but unfortunately did not survive.

His body has been sent to the morgue for autopsy. The deceased proclaimed offender has been identified as Asif, also known as Asu. He was wanted in 48 cases of robbery and drugs.

Another encounter occurred in Kahna, where two members of a dacoit gang were arrested by the Dolphin Squad after an encounter.

Reportedly, the Dolphin Squad signalled the suspects, who were riding a bike, to stop as they appeared suspicious. Instead of complying with the orders, the suspects sought refuge in a nursery near TCS Central Park.

After a confrontation, the police team arrested them. The suspects have been identified as Bilal and Ahmad, and they have been handed over to Chowki Sui Asal for further investigations.

The second encounter took place on Friday, June 23, after a Nishter Colony Investigations Police team conducted a raid to apprehend a suspect involved in a mobile phone snatching. As the police team arrived at the scene, the suspects opened fire upon seeing them.

As a result, a suspect identified as Mushtaq, also known as Kaku, was killed, and his accomplice Javed was injured. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but did not survive.

Two of their accomplices, Ehsan and Hammad, have been arrested. The deceased suspect was reportedly involved in extortion and double murder cases.

SP Model Town Asma Sherazi visited the crime scene upon receiving information about the incident. On Sunday, June 17th, three police encounters were reported.

The first encounter took place in Chung Shera Shah Colony, where the Dolphin Squad, after an encounter, arrested two suspected robbers. A team signalled two motorcyclists to stop, but instead of complying, they opened fire. In the exchange of gunfire, they were injured and apprehended by the police. The suspects have been identified as Abu Zar and Abu Bakar.

In another incident, a suspected robber was killed in an encounter with an ASI in Garden Town.

ASI Zaheer Ahmad was returning home after shopping when he was confronted by suspected robbers who robbed him at gunpoint.

He resisted, and in the exchange of gunfire, he sustained a bullet injury to his leg. Two suspects also received bullet injuries, and one of them died during treatment at the hospital.

In the third incident on that day, a suspected robber was killed in an encounter with the CIA Shahdara.

A team conducted a raid based on a tip-off, and upon seeing the police, the suspects opened fire. In the exchange of gunfire, a suspect sustained bullet injuries and died.

The deceased, a suspected shooter, has been identified as Abu Huraira.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2023.