Police ‘encounters’: Three ‘criminals’ killed, four flee

Police recover man kidnapped on Friday.

BAHAWALPUR/ FAISALABAD:

Three men were killed on Sunday in what the police claimed to be encounters. Four of their accomplices fled away. Police also recovered a man kidnapped two days ago.

In the first case, a robbery suspect was killed by the Rodala Road police, while two others fled.

Inspector Aamir Waheed, public relations officer to the city police officer said that police received a call on their helpline at 4:30am. He said the caller informed the police that three men had entered his house near the vegetable market on Link Road near Chak 277-GB.

Inspector Waheed said a police team reached the house and surrounded it.

He said the police told them to surrender, but instead the robbers started firing at the police. He said the police shot back, killing one of the robbers.

He said when the firing from inside the house stopped, police went in. Taking cover of the darkness, he said, the rest of the robbers fled.

The deceased was identified as Faiz, son of Bhai Khan Sipra, a resident of Chak 184-JB in Langrana district of Chiniot. Police said they recovered a gun and 30 cartridges from him. The deceased had been working at a farm in Chak 274-GB for two years, police said. They said he was wanted in robbery cases.



In the second case, a proclaimed offender was killed while his accomplice fled away.

Station House Officer Naveed Cheema of Chiniot police said that police was informed about the whereabouts of a proclaimed offender, Faraz Ali, a resident of Gujrat. He said police raided the house in Chiniot Housing Colony on Faisalabad-Chiniot Road and found Ali and another man there.

The SHO said that the house was surrounded by police and Ali and the other man were told to surrender. He said the two men started firing at the police. The police shot back.

He said Ali was hit and was taken to a hospital, but he died on the way. They said his friend fled the scene.

The SHO said that a van bearing an official number plate of the Anti Corruption Department and revolving light was seized from outside the house. He said some keys, a Kalashnikov and a pistol were recovered from the van.

He said that the deceased was wanted for several robbery and abduction cases registered at various police stations in Chiniot, Gujrat, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

In Rahim Yar Khan, a kidnapper was killed, while his accomplice fled. The hostage was recovered.

Police said that Zahid Saleem, a resident of Rafiqabad, was kidnapped by five armed men on Friday. They said the kidnappers were riding motorcycles. They stopped Saleem and his friend, Arshad, who were in a car, took out Saleem and fled.



A few hours later, police said, Arshad received a call from the kidnappers who told him to pay a ransom.

Arshad informed the police, who started looking for Saleem. On Sunday, they spotted the kidnappers while they were shifting Saleem to a new place.

When the police chased them, they shot at the police. The police shot back, killing one of the kidnappers. His accomplices abandoned the car and fled.

Saleem was recovered. Police said the deceased has not been identified yet. They said they recovered a pistol and bullets from him.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2012.