TOBA TEK SINGH: An alleged outlaw who belonged to Sialkot and was wanted by police of Toba Tek Singh and several other districts in dacoity, rape, kidnap for ransom and encounters with police allegedly ended his life by jumping into the Trimmu-Sidhnai Link Canal when police attempted to catch him by setting up a picket on Baghar bridge on the Jhang-Multan Road.

It happened on Sunday morning and his body was fished out from the gigantic canal after 36 hours on Monday evening. Police said his two accomplices who managed to escape died in an encounter with Vehari police in early hours of Tuesday.

According to a police official, Habib, a resident of Uggoki (Sialkot), headed an inter-district gang of criminals. He stayed for several months at Pirmahal’s UK Garden locality at the house of his relative Rana Muhammad Akmal Malangi.

Dawn approached Malangi who said when he learnt that Habib was involved in robberies and other crimes, he informed District Police Officer Waqas Shoaib Qureshi who formed six police teams to arrest him but he left Pirmahal and turned his (Malangi’s) enemy.

Two accomplices killed in ‘encounter’

Malangi added that first Habib attacked his house in UK Garden on July 30 and fired indiscriminately but luckily no one was hurt. The gangster fled when police came to the rescue of inmates. On Aug 10, he kidnapped Malangi’s brother-in-law Rana Khalid Mahmood from Lahore.

Habib then attacked his house in Chak 665/6 GB near Pirmahal and kidnapped his maternal uncle Rana Abdul Majeed He wanted Malangi to transfer his house in UK Garden to his wife’s for safe return of Rana Abdul Majeed and Rana Khalid Mahmood.

As per promise, Habib came to Pirmahal with both abductees to get possession of the house but fled when he learnt about the presence of police leaving the abducted behind.

Habib again attacked Malangi’s UK Garden house on Sept 16 but escaped when police arrived, abandoning his car carrying illicit arms.

Dawn learnt that Vehari police had informed Khanewal police on Sunday that Habib and two other members of his gang were on way to Vehari from Kallar Kahar. A police team comprising dozens of personnel set up a barrier at Baghar bridge on Trimmu-Sidhnai Link Canal in Kabirwala area. When police stopped his car on the bridge, Habib left the car and jumped into the canal. Police said his accomplices managed to escape.

After 36 hours hectic struggle, Habib’s body was recovered by Rescue 1122 divers. On Tuesday, Vehari police said Asif and Ansar, accomplices of Habib who dodged Khanewal police, were killed in a shootout in Thingi police limits.

It said Asif was wanted in 42 and Ansar in 34 cases of heinous nature.

(Gulzar Baig also contributed to this report)

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2019