Gangster held after encounter: police

ATTOCK:

The fourth member of the Malik Zargham gang from Mari Kanjur village was allegedly injured in a police encounter. Three members of the same gang had already been killed in police encounters, with allegations of being shot by their own associates.

Haider Ali—an under-custody member of the Malik Zargham gang—was injured by alleged gunfire from his own associates within the limits of Attock City police station. The accused, who was involved in serious crimes such as extortion and aerial firing, was taken to the police station with a recovered pistol after his arrest.

As the police team was passing near Dhok Fateh Kas, four unidentified armed men allegedly attempted to rescue Haider Ali, snatching him from police custody. When additional police personnel arrived at the scene, the suspects opened fire at the police team. After the firing ceased, the police team found Haider Ali injured, reportedly due to gunfire from his own associates.

Haider Ali later stated that he was rescued by Zargham, Asim, Zain,and Uzair, and it was their firing that led to his injuries. The police team promptly provided first aid and shifted the accused to the hospital for medical treatment.

A search operation has been launched, with special blockades set up to track down the four suspects. Police officials vowed to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.

Malik Alamgir, alias Sana, the brother of notorious gang leader Malik Zargham, was arrested by Hazro police on February 17. However, his associates managed to snatch him from police custody near Musa Bridge and took him away. Later, he was allegedly injured in a shooting by his own associates and succumbed to his injuries.

In a separate incident, on April 1, a purported police encounter resulted in the deaths of two gang members, Malik Hammad and Izzat Khan, both residents of Mari Kanjur and associates of Malik Zargham. The alleged police encounter occurred on Bolianwal Road, where Malik Hamad and Izzat Khan were killed in firing allegedly carried out by Malik Zargham, Malik Asim and Aziz. Malik Hamad left behind four children between the ages of two and eight, along with a widow. The other accused, Izzat Khan, left behind three children and a widow.