Outlaws assault police van, facilitate suspect’s escape

FAISALABAD: Six armed men in two cars on Tuesday opened fire on a police van on Samundari Road and released a prisoner from their custody after seizing their weapons.

Following the incident, a sub inspector and four police officials were arrested while raids are underway for the arrest of the accused, Nazar Muhammad alias Nazra Fauji.

The attackers, who had set up a barrier at the road, opened fire on the police convoy including a sub inspector, Khurshid Ahmed, and officials – Shehzad, Saufyan, Naveed Anwar and an unidentified official – who were taking Nazra back after getting a two-day remand from the court of Magistrate Nadeem Abbas.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) Iqbal town, Nasir Sial, the deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Batala colony, Mian Akmal, and the SHO D-type police station, Ahmed Munil, reached the spot after hearing the news of Nazra’s escpae. They arrested SI Khursheed Ahmed and four other officials.

According to the police, Nazar Muhammad alias Nazra, a resident of Chak no249 Balochwala, and his accomplices had been involved in a robbery of Rs3,365,000 in cash and mobile phones. Nazar had been arrested a month ago by the SHO Chak Jhumra, Malik Jehangir. During interrogation, Nazar had  given information about another notorious robber, Burhan Shah.

The custody of Nazra was later handed over to the D type police station. Nazra had also confessed involvement in several other robberies in Faisalabad, Lalian and the adjoining areas. He also reportedly disclosed important information about the whereabouts of his accomplices. According to the police, no incident of robbery had been reported form Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and surrounding areas in the one month he had been under arrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2010.