Triple police shootouts leave five alleged criminals dead

Suspects were wanted in dozens of robbery, theft, murder cases

GUJRANWALA:

Five alleged robbers wanted in dozens of criminal cases were killed during three separate police encounters in Gujranwala's Gakhar, Wahando and Garjakh areas, while seven of their accomplices managed to escape, police said on Sunday.

City Police Officer (CPO) Dr Sardar Ghiyas Gul Khan took immediate notice of the incidents and sought detailed reports from the concerned divisional SPs.

According to police, the first encounter took place in the jurisdiction of Wahando police station.

SHO Usman Warraich and his team were conducting routine patrols and snap-checking near Bakar Popli when they signalled four suspicious men riding two motorcycles to stop.

Instead, the suspects allegedly opened fire on police and fled towards Chak Ramdas village.

Police pursued the suspects, who continued firing while attempting to escape through nearby fields.

During the ensuing gun battle, two suspects sustained fatal injuries, allegedly caused by bullets fired by their own accomplices. They were shifted to hospital but succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as Muhammad Shahzad Dogar of Phool Nagar, Pattoki, and Abid Mochi of Nankana Sahib.

Police said both were members of an inter-district robbery gang and were wanted in more than 30 cases involving murder during robbery, armed robbery, highway robbery and theft in Gujranwala, Kasur and Nankana Sahib districts. Two accomplices escaped.

In the second encounter, SHO Gakhar Mandi Aurangzeb Ghazi and other police teams were manning checkpoints near Kot Yousaf when four suspects on two motorcycles allegedly attempted to break through the blockade and opened fire on police before fleeing towards Dodaanwali Bridge.

The suspects were chased to the vicinity of Chak Dadan and later confronted near a cemetery in Bagri village.

Despite repeated warnings to surrender, the suspects allegedly continued firing.

During the exchange of gunfire, two robbers were killed after being hit by bullets allegedly fired by their own associates.

The deceased were identified as Ameer Hamza and Nadeem Masih. Police said they were wanted in more than 25 cases involving robbery, street crime, motorcycle theft and looting citizens withdrawing cash from banks.

Both had criminal records in Lahore and Gujranwala. Two accomplices managed to escape, while police recovered weapons and a motorcycle from the scene.

The third encounter occurred in the Garjakh area, where SHO Rana Adil Iqbal and Inspector Shabbir's teams attempted to stop four suspicious men riding two motorcycles near Hafizabad Road.

The suspects allegedly opened fire and fled, leading to a chase and exchange of gunfire.

Police said one suspect, identified as Salahuddin alias Kaku, was killed during the encounter after allegedly being struck by bullets fired by his own accomplices.

He was reportedly wanted in dozens of cases, including robbery, theft, highway robbery and a previous police encounter case registered by the Crime Control Department (CCD) Gujranwala.

His three accomplices escaped from the scene.

Police said special teams under the supervision of SDPOs have been formed to arrest the fleeing suspects, while checkpoints have been established across the district.

CPO Dr Sardar Ghiyas Gul Khan said indiscriminate action against criminals and drug traffickers would continue to ensure a peaceful and secure society.

"We will continue our crackdown until criminal elements find no space to operate in Gujranwala and Wazirabad," he said.