Murder suspect dies in 'gunbattle with police'

Accused was on the run after allegedly killing his cousin

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RAWALPINDI:

A murder suspect, who escaped from the custody of the city police station, was killed in a late-night exchange of fire in a police encounter in the Pirwadhai area, while his accomplice managed to escape.

The deceased suspect had brutally killed his cousin and had attempted to dispose his body by burning it in a fat-rendering cauldron to extort money from him. The police also recovered Rs4.5 million snatched from the victim.

According to Rawalpindi police, the accused, Meher Ali, had escaped custody while being transported by City Police for the recovery of the extorted money, but in that time, the accused freed himself from handcuffs and fled. Later, him and his accomplices began indiscriminately firing on a police team conducting snap checking in the Pirwadhai area before making their escape.

However, another exchange of fire took place near the Pirwadhai graveyard as the police chase them. The accused was killed in the exchange and his two accomplices fled. A search operation is ongoing in the area to apprehend the absconders.

A few days ago, the accused had lured his cousin, Mohsin Ali, by inviting him to his home on the pretence of selling him prize bonds at a discounted rate. Subsequently, he not only killed him but also displayed extreme brutality by putting the victim's body in a fat-melting cauldron and burning it. The accused was known for processing animal remains into fat, which he supplied to soap factories.

Departmental action has also been initiated against the police officials Sub-Inspector Irfan, Constable Faisal, Zaman Shah and Sahil Zafar, who showed negligence by letting the accused escape.