Two suspects killed in separate police encounters

GUJRANWALA: Two alleged criminals were killed and another suspect was arrested in injured condition in three separate police encounters in different parts of Gujranwala, police said on Wednesday.

Police said the operations were carried out as part of an ongoing drive against criminal elements under the supervision of City Police Officer Dr Sardar Ghias Gul Khan.

Encounter during stolen property recovery operation

According to police, the first incident took place in the jurisdiction of Gakhar Mandi Police Station, where Station House Officer Aurangzeb and his team were conducting an operation linked to the recovery of stolen property.

Police said two unidentified accomplices allegedly opened fire on the police party in an attempt to secure the release of suspect Abid alias Aabi, who was in custody at the time. The police team returned fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire.

During the shootout, police said Abid was hit by bullets allegedly fired by his own accomplices and died at the scene. Constable Ghulam Abbas was also injured in the incident, while the attackers managed to flee.

Police said Abid was on physical remand in a theft case registered at Sohdra Police Station and was wanted in more than 30 serious criminal cases across Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts.

Second suspect killed in Kamoke

In another encounter within the limits of City Kamoke Police Station, police said SHO Shujaat Afzal Butt and his team came across an alleged drug trafficker identified as Yasir alias Chattwa.

According to police, the suspect was accompanied by three unidentified associates and opened indiscriminate fire on a police checkpoint. Police returned fire, and during the exchange Yasir was allegedly shot by bullets fired by his own accomplices and died, while the others escaped.

Police described Yasir as a habitual drug dealer and said he had a criminal record in several narcotics cases registered at different police stations in Gujranwala.