‘Encounters’ leave 4 dead

ASI injured in attack while travelling with detained suspects

KHURRIANWALA:

Four suspects in murder and other serious cases were killed and a police ASI was injured in two police encounters. The police shifted the bodies to hospitals for postmortem and started searching for their fleeing accomplices. Dozens of relatives of the deceased raised slogans, protesting against the police outside the mortuary unit, alleging that the police killed them in fake encounters.

According to the incident reports, SHO Saddar Rai Aftab Wasim and other officials were taking arrested suspects Akhlaq alias Akhlaqo, Shehbaz alias Mota and Waqar alias Waqari in an official vehicle with the weapon in a murder case. Three armed suspects on motorcycles intercepted the vehicle near Kowal Bridge and opened fire on the police. The police returned fire and the suspects on motorcycles fled the scene, taking advantage of cover of darkness. Akhlaq, Shehbaz, Waqar and ASI Ghulam Mustafa were injured.

A Rescue 1122 team was transferring the injured to hospital when they succumbed to their injuries.

According to SHO Rai Aftab Wasim, the three slain suspects were target killers, against whom murder cases are registered.

Read Man accuses cops of crippling son in fake encounter

In another incident, In-charge Investigation Sub-Inspector Ghulam Mustafa, posted at Chak Jhumra police station, was taking the accused Bilal Cheema, who was arrested in a kidnapping and murder case, when seven armed suspects in a car and on motorcycles opened fire on them near Paharing Bridge. The accused also snatched an official SMG and fled towards Chiniot.

SHO Chak Jhumra was heading to the scene along with Inspector Rana Asim near Babewala Bridge. Police signaled the accused to stop at a blockade, who opened fire on the police.

During the ensuing gunfight, the accused escaped, leaving Bilal Cheema behind. The weapon he stole was also recovered. Investigation In-charge Ghulam Mustafa was taking him to Allied Hospital, when Bilal succumbed to his injuries.

Dozens of the accused’s relatives protested by blocking the road outside the Allied Hospital Mortuary Unit. They alleged that Saddar and Jhumra police killed them in fake encounters.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2024.