SHEIKHUPURA, Oct 29: Muridke Saddar police claimed on Friday to have arrested six proclaimed offenders, a woman among them, with a huge quantity of sophisticated weapons following a two-hour encounter near Gajar Golla village.
Two of the policemen and the woman criminal suffered injuries.
Reports emanating from the incident said the Muridke Saddar police SHO, Inspector Muhammad Akram Kamboh, received information that some POs had taken shelter near Gajar Golla village.
The SHO, along with a heavy contingent, and assisted by circle ASP Ali Javed, raided the hideout whose inmates opened fire. The police team retaliated and in an encounter that followed, it succeeded in arresting the members of the Zaman Chattha group.
Those arrested were identified as Munir alias Munira Faqir, Imran alias Manuh Chattha, Ansar Javed Chattha, Saifullah Chattha, Qaisar Chattha and Bushra Bibi. Head constable Muhammad Ashraf, constable Majeed and PO Bushra Bibi suffered injuries during the exchange of fire.
The police claimed that they had recovered three kalashnikovs, two rifles and thousands of bullets from the arrested POs. Later, District Police Officer Shahid Iqbal told newsmen that the suspects were involved in many murder, attempt to murder, encounter, kidnap for ransom and other cases. "They were wanted by police of Sheikhupura and other districts," the DPO said, identifying four of them as brothers.
PROTEST: Scores of people, a majority of them relatives of the three traders killed by their business partner almost a month ago, on Friday protested against police for not arresting the culprits so far.
Liaquat Ali, Tauqir Shah and Bashir alias Baway Shah, who were residents of Sheikhupura, worked in partnership with some people at a garment factory on the Multan Road (Lahore) in Hanjarwal police station precinct. They were killed at the factory by Tariq Alvi, Fahad Alvi, Mian Muzaffar, Mian Tahir and their three accomplices over a monetary dispute.
Malik Tariq Awan, the complainant of triple murder case, said at a press conference that the deceased had set up a garment factory in company with Tariq Alvi. However, the business partners soon developed differences over money.
He said Tahir, another partner in the trade, called all the stakeholders on the pretext of mediating between them. But he and his armed men resorted to firing, killing Malik Liaquat Awan, Bashir Shah and Tauqir Shah and injuring Amjad Ali and Nasrullah. Tariq added that the police had arrested Mian Tahir and Mian Muzaffar who were nominated in the FIR, but they were set free by the Hanjarwal SHO after taking bribe.
He also alleged that Rs2 million worth machinery installed at the factory had also been stolen by the suspects. He demanded that the Punjab governor, IGP and other high-ranking officials considered the bereaved family's plea for the action against the suspects, besides providing it shelter. When contacted, the SHO denied taking bribe and pledged to capture the culprits at the earliest.
