Pindi reports surge in ‘encounters’

RAWALPINDI:

In a year marked by unprecedented events in the country’s history, the Rawalpindi police recorded a staggering 68 police encounters, establishing a new benchmark in the department's history.

This surge in reported shootouts resulted in the loss of 26 lives, including civilians and women, while leaving 66 individuals injured, including 30 policemen. Notably, one policeman was martyred during these encounters.

Data obtained from police sources revealed that the number of police encounters in 2023 surpassed any previous year in Rawalpindi police history. The intensity of these encounters ranged from alleged robberies involving overseas Pakistanis to confrontations with suspected criminals across various police stations.

The year kicked off with an alleged encounter on January 2 in the jurisdiction of Morgah police station, resulting in the death of Aamir Younis, a reported robber targeting overseas Pakistanis. Subsequent incidents unfolded across different police stations, leaving a trail of injuries and fatalities.

As the months progressed, alleged encounters unfolded within the jurisdictions of the Pirwadhai, Chakri, Ratta Amral, and Newtown police stations, among others. Dolphin Force, the Punjab’s elite unit to combat street crime, also found themselves in the line of fire, with one officer suffering injuries in an incident near the Airport police station.

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The alleged encounters continued throughout the year, involving incidents such as a purported shootout with a drug dealer, confrontations with suspected bandits, and clashes with accused individuals wanted for serious crimes, including rape and kidnapping for ransom cases.

July brought news of the demise of Malik Azhar, a most-wanted suspect, following a police confrontation in Chakri. The subsequent months witnessed a mix of arrests, injuries, and fatalities in encounters involving motorcycle-riding bandits, dacoits, and suspects linked to various criminal activities.

September marked a tragic turn when Constable Adeel Zafar was martyred during a police raid in the Rawat area. The exchange of fire with robbers resulted in injuries to other officers and the death of three alleged robbers.

In October, a notable incident occurred when four bandits opened fire on the Dolphin team, leading to the arrest of two suspects with injuries. Similar encounters unfolded throughout the month, involving retaliatory firing, injuries, and arrests.

November saw a series of encounters, including incidents where bandits opened fire on the police, resulting in injuries to officers and civilians. The year concluded with three bandits injured and arrested in a December encounter in the Naseerabad police station area.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior police officer said all encounters were a result of the police's fight against criminals.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.