Nine killed in separate CCD 'encounters' across Punjab

TOBA TEK SINGH: Nine suspects were killed in separate encounters with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in different parts of Punjab, officials said.

In Faisalabad, CCD officials stated that a joint team led by Lyallpur Town in-charge Siddique Cheema, Iqbal Town in-charge Ali Ikram Goraya and CCD Police Station SHO Farooq Nazar was patrolling near Sem Nullah in the Ghulam Muhammadabad area.

According to officials, eight suspects opened indiscriminate fire on seeing the police, prompting retaliatory firing. After the exchange ended, four suspects were found dead. Police claimed they were hit by bullets fired by their own accomplices, who managed to escape under cover of darkness.

The deceased were identified as Haroon alias Shaari of Chak 220 RB, Aftab alias Faizi of Mahmood Town, Shahbaz Ali of Jhang and Naseer alias Nasiri of Lahore.

CCD officials said the suspects were proclaimed offenders allegedly involved in multiple cases, including murder, dacoity, robbery, attempted murder, extortion and previous police encounters across districts such as Faisalabad, Lahore and Kasur. The bodies were taken into custody and shifted to hospital.

In Jaranwala, two suspects were killed in another alleged encounter. Police said a team headed by CCD Jaranwala in-charge Adeel Shaukat came under fire from five suspects near Chak 63 GB while attempting to arrest a proclaimed offender.

Officials said two suspects were critically wounded by firing from their own associates and later died while being transported to hospital, while others fled. The deceased were identified as Babar Ghani Gujjar of Chak 128 GB and Liaquat Sharif Rajput of Awagat.

Police described Gujjar as a repeat offender with dozens of cases registered against him, while Rajput was also wanted in multiple dacoity cases. A search operation was launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In Chiniot, CCD officials said a team led by ASI Nasrullah Haji was on patrol near Baghra Sadat village when they received information about a robbery at a house in the area. The suspects were reportedly fleeing towards Sar Murad Wala Road.

Police said the team chased the suspects, who allegedly entered nearby fields and opened fire. A policeman, Waheed Abbas, was struck by a bullet but remained unharmed due to his bulletproof vest, while police vehicles were also hit.

Additional personnel were called in, and after the firing ceased, three injured suspects were found during a search operation. Officials said they had sustained injuries from their accomplices’ gunfire.

The injured suspects — identified as Ali Hamza of Chak 59, Sargodha; Naveed Abbas of Jehanian Shah village, Sargodha; and Ghulam Raza Qasai of Jhang — were shifted to hospital by Rescue 1122 but were pronounced dead.

Police said weapons, cash and other valuables allegedly looted during the robbery were recovered from them. Officials further claimed that the suspects were involved in multiple cases of dacoity, robbery and encounters in various districts.

Cases were registered against the deceased suspects and their unidentified accomplices who escaped.