June 09, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1428

OKARA, June 8: An alleged drug smuggler was shot dead while a constable sustained injuries during a three-hour-long encounter on Thursday night.

Okara police on a tip off chased drug pusher Dilawar alias Dilawari alias Talha Khan who was driving a car towards Sahiwal on Noorshah-Gogera road. Police intercepted him about five kilometres from Gogera near Tattha Bhatian.

Dilawar tried to escape but opened fire on police team when found no way. A bullet hit Constable Atique. He was admitted to the DHQ Hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.

Police radioed a message and a heavy contingent was rushed to the site which is about 30 kilometres from here. Dilawar was killed in the crossfire.

Police claimed that Dilawar was involved in 11 criminal cases committed in Gogera and Satgrah police jurisdiction. He was involved in an encounter with Satgrah police a few years ago. He was convicted of rape in a case registered by Satgrah police.

HOUSE ROBBED: Four gunmen snatched cash, foreign currency and other valuables from the house of Dr Tariq Hameed in Medical Colony on Thursday night.

Dr Tariq told police that two people came to his clinic adjacent to his official residence as patients. After check-up, one of them signalled two others to come into his room. All the four robbers held him and 10 medical representatives who were sitting there at gunpoint. After collecting cash and cell phones from them, they forced Dr Tariq to take to his house from where they collected Rs150,000 in cash, 1,500 US dollars besides valuables.

The dacoits stayed in his house for nearly one hour and escaped at around midnight after locking all the medical representatives and Dr Tariq in the room.

City A Division police have registered a case.