FAISALABAD: Four people, including a constable, were gunned down in an ‘encounter’ near Gatwala Park on Tuesday.

However, witnesses said three alleged robbers were caught and later killed by the police in a staged encounter.

According to police, Eagle Squad comprising Waris Ali and Ghulam Mustafa was patrolling near Gatwala when they spotted three suspects. While the suspects were being frisked, one of them opened fire and injured Ali and all the three fled from the scene.

On receiving information, a police team led by Madina Town SP Nasir Sial reached the spot and chased the suspects who were found hiding in a park. On seeing the police, the suspects opened fire, which was retaliated.

Two of the alleged robbers were killed on the spot and the third wounded. The injured policeman and robber died on way to hospital.

Police also claimed to have seized a Kalashnikov and two pistols from the spot.

The inspector general of police announced cash prizes for the policemen who participated in the ‘encounter’.

Meanwhile, witnesses contradicted police’s version. They said the patrolling squad had rounded up two of the suspects after the third one fled during frisking. The absconder was later caught from Shireenwala and they were all shifted to a police post.

After a few minutes, the witnesses said, they heard three people had been gunned down. But, none of the policeman sustained even a minor injury even though police claimed to have seized two pistols and a Kalashnikov from the spot.

The witnesses claimed the police shot at and killed the three suspects in their faces. The police said it was a genuine encounter.

Published in Dawn, September 17th , 2014