FAISALABAD: Police are finding it difficult to conclude inquiry into an alleged encounter that killed two boys, as the suspected policemen are at large, leaving the probe committee with no option but to conclude it without their statements.

Police raided houses of the suspected policemen -- Assistant Sub-Inspector Javed Akhtar, Head Constable Asghar Ali, Constable Falak Sher, terminated constable Faisal and a volunteer Waqas, but all in vain. Some relatives of the suspects are in police custody to pressurise the fugitives to join the probe.

The suspects were booked in a case of killing Arsalan and Usman on Wednesday night in an alleged encounter. After the shooting, Millat Town police registered an encounter case against the victim students, and none of the senior police officers bothered to check whether the contents of the first information report were genuine or fake.

Inquiry that was to be completed within 24 hours inconclusive after three days

Following an hours-long protest by family members of the boys, the police had formed a five-member committee to probe into the issue.

The committee had been given 24 hours to conclude the probe, however it is yet to be concluded even after three days of the incident as the suspects are at large.

Sources privy to the development told Dawn that it has been established that the boys did not open fire on police and the story of an exchange of fire at a picket near Bagh Wali Puli was concocted.

City Police Officer (CPO) Ashfaq Khan told reporters that the inquiry would be concluded on merit and none of the suspects would be favoured. He said recommendations of the committee would be implemented in letter and spirit.

On Aug 5, the Dolphin Force had also allegedly traded fire with two suspected robbers near Siddiquia graveyard. Bashir Ahmed of D Type Colony and Ramzan of Kokianwala suffered bullet injuries in this ‘encounter’ and died at a hospital after a couple of days of treatment. None of the policemen involved were injured in the ‘encounter’.

Police had claimed that Ahmed and Ramzan had a criminal record with Batala Colony, D Type Colony and other police stations.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2018