Yet another killed in sixth police ‘encounter’ in May

LAHORE: The death toll from police ‘encounters’ in the province during the current month reached five on Wednesday after an alleged criminal was killed by the police in Badami Bagh. According to details, a team of the Iqbal Town Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) killed Zulfiqar Masih in an ‘encounter’ on Peco Road at 6am. Badami Bagh Police Station duty officer Adil told Daily Times the CIA police team led by Inspector Muhammad Fiaz raided a house to arrest the accused. He said the accused, along with two accomplices, was aware of the raid and started firing at the police. He said the police returned the fire and an ‘encounter’ ensued for half-an-hour. He said the police team found Zulfiqar dead after the ‘encounter’ ended, while his two accomplices managed to flee. He said the body was sent to the city morgue for autopsy. As usual, no policeman was injured or killed. On May 8, an alleged dacoit was killed in an ‘encounter’ with Sargodha police, while the Gujranwala police killed two ‘criminals’ on May 10. On May 12, Lahore’s Sabzazar police claimed killing one Nasir alias Nasri in an ‘encounter’. On May 17, the Khanewal police claimed to have arrested two ‘dacoits’ after an encounter, while on May 19, the Investigation police of Lahore’s Mughalpura Police Station claimed to have arrested five proclaimed offenders after an encounter, while four escaped. staff report

(Daily Times)