August 14, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 29, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 13: A proclaimed offender and his accomplice were killed in what police described as a shootout in Shafeeqabad police precincts on Monday morning.

Shafeeqabad SHO Rashid Ameen Butt told Dawn that on a tip-off a police party picketed Bund Road and signalled two suspects riding on a motorcycle to stop but they took an unpaved road towards River Ravi. When police chased them, they abandoned the motorcycle, entered nearby fields and opened fire. The police said it retaliated and killed Mujahid and his accomplice on the spot.

Mujahid was wanted in 41 cases of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity and robbery in different police stations of the city and other districts.

He had also killed a police constable, Muhammad Bashir, of Shafeeqabad and a police informer, Asif, in Sheikhpura district four months ago and a case was registered against him in the Bheel police station.

Mujahid’s accomplice was later identified as Shahnawaz of Sahiwal, who was also wanted in a murder case.

ARRESTED: Officials of the CIA City, Ravi, Iqbal Town and Sadar division police arrested 375 criminals, including 20 proclaimed offenders, and recovered illegal arms and narcotics from their possession.

The CIA police targeted 13 dens during an operation launched late on Monday night where killers and POs used to take shelter.

Police sources said the campaign against illegal arms and criminals was supervised by DIG (Investigation) Tassaduq Husain and SSP (Operations) Aftab Ahmad Cheema. —Staff Reporter