CHINIOT: A station house officer and a proclaimed offender were killed, while a constable was seriously injured in a shootout between police and criminals on the outskirts of Lalian tehsil headquarters on Thursday.

According to police, Kandiwal SHO Muzaffar Ali was tipped off that a proclaimed offender Akhtar alias Akhtari Gadhar, carrying Rs1 million head money, was present at Haral Chowk near Bhabhrana village along with his accomplices.

The SHO leading a team raided the criminals’ hideout who took positions in a sugarcane field and opened fire on police that was retaliated.

As the crossfire continued for several hours, more police were called from nearby police stations at Chenab Nagar, Muhammadwala and Lalian. Elite force teams also reached the spot and surrounded the field.

During the shootout, SHO Muzaffar Ali and Constable Zafar Ali were hit by bullets fired by the outlaws and got critically injured. While they were being shifted to hospital, the SHO succumbed to his wounds. The condition of the constable was said to be serious at the district headquarters hospital.

A proclaimed offender, Qasim, was also killed in the crossfire, while Akhtari managed to flee the scene, the police said.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were offered in Chiniot Police Lines, attended by Regional Police Officer Ehsan Tufail, DCO Shaukat Ali Khichi and others. The police guards also offered a salute.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2015

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