Murder suspect shot dead in custody

Police say Mudassar was involved in a dozen robberies, murders.

FAISALABAD: Police claimed on Wednesday that an under-custody robbery and murder suspect was killed in a shootout with unidentified gunmen. A police constable was injured as well.

Police spokesman Muhammad Ramazan told The Express Tribune that Mudassar had been arrested by Garh police for nearly a dozen robbery and murder cases. He said the suspect had also attacked a police station on April 13, 2015.

“Late on Tuesday night, a police team, headed by Garh SHO Rai Arshad, was taking Mudassar to one of his hideouts to recover case evidence. When they reached Sheraza Pattan, five gunmen, riding two motorcycles, started shooting at the vehicle. Mudassar and Constable Iqbal were both hit by the bullets. The police team returned fire and called for back-up,” Ramazan said.

He said that the attackers hid in a maize field and continued to fire at police.

“A police contingent, headed by DSP Fazal Abbas, reached the spot. The shootout between police and the attackers continued for more than two hours. Later, the attackers fled under cover of darkness,” the spokesman said.

He said that Mudassar and the injured constable were taken to a hospital. “Mudassar was pronounced dead on arrival. Iqbal is under intensive care,” he said.

“A case has been registered against the attackers on the complaint of SHO Arshad. Several police teams have been formed to find out the attackers,” he said.

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