LAHORE: Three suspects wanted in the Youhanabad blast case were killed in an ‘encounter’ at Batapur on Tuesday. Police claimed that the suspects were killed during an exchange of heavy fire with the CIA personnel.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in Lahore on March 17, sparking violence in which two other youngsters were burned to death.
Police claimed that they were members of an outlawed militant outfit.
Slain men were wanted in attacks on Lahore churches
They said a team of CIA officials were taking them to Batapur for the arrest of their accomplices, but when they reached near Baseen village the police party was attacked.
CIA SP Umar Virk told media that after a heavy exchange of fire, the three suspects, who were in physical remand of the CIA police, were found dead.
He said four hand-grenades and a suicide jacket had been recovered from them.
They were also wanted in an attack on Qilla Gujjar Singh Police Lines and a building of the Special Investigation Unit. Mr Virk claimed that a sub-inspector also got injured in the exchange of fire.
A source said the deceased suspects, identified as Sheikh Qanoon, Rai Sana and Imran, were to be handed over to the CTD in the Youhanabad blast case on Wednesday.
He said the CTD, which was investigating the case, had apparently no evidence against the suspects for their involvement in the case.
The source also claimed that the CIA had no mandate to investigate the case since the CTD’s investigation wing had been functioning.
He said the CTD had already got the terrorists penalised in two separate cases through anti-terrorism courts.
Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015
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