A suspect wanted in the murder of a 10-year-old boy has been killed in an encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Bhowana, Chiniot, while another suspect has died and one has been injured in a separate encounter in the district, police have said.
According to police, a CCD team led by Bhowana in-charge Ijaz Asghar had established a picket near Hockey Stadium on Wednesday night when officers signalled two men riding a motorcycle to stop.
Police claimed that the suspects abandoned their motorcycle, fled into nearby fields and opened fire on the police party. Officers took cover behind their vehicle, while Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Abid Ali remained unharmed after a bullet struck his bulletproof jacket.
Police added that they later launched a search operation and found one suspect injured in the fields. According to their account, the man had been shot by his accomplice, who escaped from the scene.
The suspect identified himself as Waseem Akram, a resident of Nalka Addah in Bhowana, before losing consciousness. Rescue 1122 personnel reached the spot and confirmed that he had died.
Police said that Akram was wanted in a case related to the murder of 10-year-old Ali, the son of his employer. He had been booked for allegedly killing the boy after looting money from him a few days earlier.
In a separate encounter, Chiniot CCD police reported that one suspect was killed and another injured in village Batti Wala.
Police said that a team had established a picket near Batti Wala Bridge when officers signalled five armed men travelling on two motorcycles to stop.
The suspects abandoned their motorcycles, took positions in nearby fields and opened fire on the police party.
According to police, the exchange of fire continued for around 15 minutes. Officers later found two suspects injured at the scene, with both allegedly sustaining bullet wounds inflicted by their accomplices.
The suspects identified themselves as Karim Bakhsh, a resident of Rajanpur and Hanif, from Kot Addu. Police said that Bakhsh died at the scene, while Hanif was shifted to Bhowana Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital for treatment.
Police records showed that both men were involved in various criminal activities across Punjab. The CCD added that it recovered two pistols and registered cases against the suspects and three accomplices who escaped.
