Curbing crime: Wanted man killed in shootout with police

A spokesman says Ghulam Fareed, his five accomplices snatch motorbike from Amjad, Haq Nawaz in Sadiqabad

BAHAWALPUR:

Police claimed on Saturday to have killed the leader of an inter-provincial criminal gang in a shootout.

Another wanted man was killed in friendly fire, police said.

A spokesman told newsmen that Ghulam Fareed and his five accomplices had snatched a motorbike from Amjad and Haq Nawaz near Head Bridge in Sadiqabad.

He said they had tied up Amjad and Nawaz to carry them along. He said police were informed about the incident on their helpline and a team was dispatched to investigate the complaint.

The spokesman said when the men saw the police team approaching, they shot at it. He said Fareed was killed when policemen shot back. He said his accomplices fled, leaving Fareed behind. Police recovered a pistol and bullets from the scene.

Sadiqabad SHO Abbas Akhtar told newsmen the deceased was wanted for more than 100 robbery cases, including murder, abduction and armed robbery.

Separately, Derawar police said Hasmat Ali, wanted for 28 robbery cases, had been killed by friendly fire in a shootout with the police.

The Derawar SHO said police had been granted Ali’s physical remand and were shifting him to jail in a van when they were attacked by six armed men.

He said they fired shots on the police vehicle, damaging the tyres.

In the commotion, Ali tried to run towards his accomplices. The SHO said when policemen followed, his accomplices shot at the policemen, hitting Ali instead. He said Ali died on the spot. Police have sent his body for post mortem examination.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2015.