Two long-wanted suspects killed in Vehari

Two suspects wanted in multiple serious criminal cases were killed in separate police encounters during routine patrolling operations by the Crime Control Division (CCD) in Vehari district, police said on Friday.

According to police, the first incident occurred near EB-505 bridge when three armed suspects opened fire on a CCD patrol team. The police returned fire.

During the search operation following the exchange, one suspect was found critically injured and later died. He was identified as Muhammad Yousaf alias Kaba Qasai, a resident of Burewala. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol from the scene. Two accomplices managed to escape.

In the second encounter, a CCD team came across three armed individuals blocking a road near Chak WB-97. The suspects allegedly fired at the police vehicle.

During the retaliatory action, one suspect sustained critical injuries and died during the operation. He was identified as Akhtar Hussain, also a resident of Burewala. A pistol was recovered from his possession.

According to officials, both deceased suspects were involved in multiple cases of robbery, theft, and armed assault and had been on the run for nearly two decades.

In the past 90 days, CCD teams across Multan, Lodhran, Khanewal, and Vehari have arrested 337 suspects. These include 49 in murder cases, 34 in robbery, 180 in robbery and theft, and 74 in other serious offences.