January 24, 2007	Wednesday	Muharram 04, 1428

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GUJRANWALA, Jan 23: Relatives have urged the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court to take a suo motu notice of killing of two innocent people of Kashmir Colony in what they said a fake encounter staged by the Phalia police about three days back.

Reports reaching here on Tuesday suggested that five members of a family — Yasir, Akhlaq, Jamil Shah, two women Zartash and Nasreen Bibi — of Kashmir Colony, Gujranwala were on their way to Dera Ghatana, Phalia to participate in an engagement ceremony by a car. Near a Gojra village, a police party, which was chasing some wanted criminals, intercepted them and opened fire on them over suspicion of outlaws. As a result of which Yasir and Akhlaq were killed on the spot while three others suffered injuries.

Later, the police declared the incident an encounter and registered a case against them following taking the injured into custody. However, the police had handed over bodies of the slain to their heirs and released two injured women after protest by residents of the colony on the same day. It was learnt that the injured, Jamil Shah, had `disappeared’ from lockup.

The heirs brought the bodies to Rahwali from Mandi Bahauddin by ambulances and started protests against the police. During burial, senior police officers reached there and assured the family of justice.

On Monday, Kashmir Colony traders observed a shutdown and took out a procession against the Phalia police for killing two innocent youths and injuring others.

The aggrieved family apprehended that Phalia police were forcing the two injured women to record their statements supporting police version. They also feared that Jamil Shah, who went `missing’ from lockup, would be killed in another encounter to conceal facts.

On Tuesday, Mandi DPO Waqar Ahmed said, “A judicial probe will be conducted into the incident and a letter has been dispatched to the district and sessions judge in this regard.”

Meanwhile, AJK assembly member Muhammad Ismail and district bar association have also voiced their concern over the killings and demanded action against the respective SHO and the raiding team.