11 killed in Gujranwala, Lahore 'CCD encounters'

Police fail to apprehend accomplices blamed for fatal shootings

GUJRANWALA/LAHORE:

At least seven suspected criminals were killed during police encounters in Gujranwala and four others in Lahore.

The Crime Control Division (CCD) continued its crackdown on drug dealers across Gujranwala division, with seven suspected crystal meth dealers reportedly killed in encounters.

According to CCD officials, the encounters took place during attempted arrests after suspects opened fire on police teams, leading to retaliatory action.

They said a dealer named Khizer openly sold drugs and carried sophisticated weapons to spread fear in Gujranwala was among those killed.

In Qila Didar Singh, a suspected drug dealer, Siddique, was shot dead.

The officials claimed that four suspected drug dealers in Gujranwala were killed by gunfire from their accomplices during the encounters.

The department stated that suspected drug dealers were also.killed in Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat and Hafizabad.

The local.officials said all the suspects had long been involved in drug trafficking and had multiple cases registered against them.

Meanwhile, four alleged criminals were killed in late-night police encounters conducted by the CCD in Lahore.

The incidents occurred in Nishter Colony and Kahna.

In Model Town, two suspects, Naveed and Anjum, were killed after they came under fire from their accomplices during an attempted rescue, the police claimed.

In another incident in Kahna, Shahid and Mujahid were reportedly killed under similar circumstances.

CCD officials said the accomplices of the deceased managed to flee under the cover of darkness.

The police claimed all the deceased were involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The bodies were shifted to a morgue for post-mortem examination.

Counter-Narcotics Force

Provincial Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Secretary Muhammad Masood Mukhtar said while presiding over a performance review meeting of the Punjab Counter Narcotics Force that the CNF had conducted 269 intelligence-based operations since August. The operations led to the seizure of over 13.2 tonnes of narcotics, arrest of hundreds of suspects and registration of 156 FIRs.

He said 56 illegal weapons, 11 quadcopters and other equipment used by drug syndicates had also been seized.

He also referred to the conviction of two drug traffickers in Faisalabad to 14 years imprisonment along with fines of Rs400,000 each.