Two ANF men killed in Jhelum shootout

Police say private employee also died during anti-drug trafficking operation

RAWALPINDI:

Unidentified men in a car shot and killed three men, including two Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) personnel and a citizen, near Tarkai Toll Plaza on GT Road.

According to the police, the suspects fled into the forest while firing. Police and ANF teams have launched a search operation.

ANF officials reported that during an operation against drug trafficking, the ANF team signaled a suspicious vehicle to stop near Kala Pul at Tarkai Toll Plaza. Instead of stopping, the suspects tried to escape, prompting the ANF team to pursue them.

During the chase, the suspects opened fire on the ANF team, resulting in the immediate death of an ANF personnel and a civilian, while another ANF personnel was critically injured and later succumbed to his injuries at DHQ Hospital Jhelum. The martyred head constable has been identified as Gulzar, and Lance Naik as Mazhar. The civilian killed was named Zeeshan. The three suspects escaped into the forest while continuing to fire.

Following the incident, police and ANF officers arrived at the scene, cordoning off the forest to search for the suspects.

It has been learned that the driver of the suspect’s vehicle, identified as Shehzad, has been taken into custody along with the vehicle. During initial interrogation, he revealed that a person named Bilal from Kharian had booked his vehicle and picked up two individuals along the way.

Police said that a case will be registered once the ANF completes the prosecution regarding the incident, after which the investigation will begin and more details will emerge.