Drug kingpin killed in alleged CCD encounter

KHANEWAL:

A criminal wanted in 44 cases of murder, robbery, dacoity, police encounters and drug trafficking was killed along with an accomplice during an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Jahanian.

The slain suspect was identified as Ali Raza alias Soni Bhutta, a resident of Kabirwala, who had remained on the run for the past 15 years.

Police said Soni Bhutta was operating a large-scale supply chain of ice (crystal meth) across Khanewal district and was considered a symbol of fear in the area.

Police said Soni Bhutta and his accomplice Ali Ahmed Hogi were killed during a shootout with CCD officials while they were allegedly involved in a robbery in Jahanian.

Just a week earlier, the two suspects had allegedly shot dead CCD informer Shoaib Ootra when he was providing information to the authorities about their drug trafficking activities.

After the killing, the suspects had gone into hiding in another province, prompting police and CCD teams to conduct raids in several cities of Punjab and Sindh.