Police meeting in Lahore. Photo: Express (file)
GUJRANWALA:
Five alleged robbers wanted in dozens of criminal cases were killed in 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 the police, the first encounter took place in the jurisdiction of the Wahando Police Station.
SHO Usman Warraich and his team were conducting routine patrols and blitz checks near Bakar Popli when they signaled four suspicious men riding two motorcycles to stop.
Instead, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police and fled towards Chak Ramdas village.
Police pursued the suspects, who continued to shoot as they tried to flee through nearby fields.
During the ensuing gun battle, two suspects sustained fatal injuries, allegedly caused by bullets fired by their own accomplices. They were taken 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 check posts near Kot Yousaf when four suspects on two motorcycles allegedly tried 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 graveyard in Bagri village.
Despite repeated warnings to surrender, the suspects reportedly continued to fire.
During the shootout, 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 of 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 took place in Garjakh area where SHO Rana Adil Iqbal and Inspector Shabbir’s team tried 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 hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices.
He was allegedly wanted in dozens of cases including robbery, theft, highway robbery and an earlier case of police encounter registered by Crime Control Department (CCD) Gujranwala.
His three accomplices fled the scene.
Police said that special teams under the supervision of SDPOs have been formed to arrest the absconding suspects while check posts 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.
