13 suspects killed in 46 Gujranwala police encounters

Police say crackdown targets proclaimed offenders, drug peddlers

GUJRANWALA:

Police in Gujranwala and Wazirabad conducted 46 alleged encounters with criminal suspects during the last 15 days, resulting in the deaths of 13 suspects and the arrest of 39 others in injured condition, police officials said.

According to police sources, the operations were carried out under a crackdown launched by City Police Officer (CPO) Dr Ghiyas Gul Khan against criminal gangs and repeat offenders across the region.

Police claimed the suspects killed in the encounters died after being hit by gunfire allegedly fired by their own accomplices during exchanges of fire with police teams.

Among those killed were Sajid, described by police as a dangerous robber, Abu Bakar, accused of injuring a citizen named Hamza during a robbery incident, and Faisal, who was reportedly wanted in 35 criminal cases.

Police also said Zahid Altaf, accused of murdering his wife and injuring two daughters in the Jinnah Road police limits, was killed during an encounter.

Other deceased suspects included Ali Raza, an alleged member of an inter-district gang involved in 25 cases, narcotics dealer Shafiq, and Fahad alias Fadi, who was accused in a rape case involving a minor girl in Gakhar. Authorities said one police constable was also injured during one of the encounters.

Police further claimed that several other proclaimed offenders and suspects wanted in murder, robbery, drug trafficking and sexual assault cases were arrested in injured condition after allegedly being shot by their accomplices while attempting to flee.

Those arrested included suspects identified as Aftab, Owais alias Kala Shah, Haider Ali, Qari Siddique, accused of attempting to assault a minor girl, Shahzaib, Nafees, Usman alias Kaka, Shahbaz alias Kaka, Irfan, Suhaib, Samiullah, Nauman, Muazzam, Habibullah, Khadim Hussain, Abdul Jabbar, Ramzan, Dilawar Hussain and Muhammad Shahbaz.

Police said suspects Usman, allegedly involved in 20 criminal cases, Adil, Atif Saeed, Imran Haider, Zulfiqar Ali, Ali Raza, Yaseen, Siddique, Khurram Shahzad, Naeem, accused of attempting to assault a minor girl, Ali Hassan, Arshad, Farooq, Muhammad Ali, Arbaz, accused in a child sexual abuse case, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Rizwan, Sohail Jalwa and Shazal Shankar were also arrested during separate encounters.

Police said narcotics, weapons and stolen motorcycles were recovered during the operations, while cases had been registered against the arrested suspects.

CPO Dr Ghiyas Gul Khan said police were committed to protecting the public and maintaining law and order.

"We are protectors of the people and will fulfil this responsibility at every cost. Whoever commits a crime will face punishment," he said.