GUJRANWALA: A hardened criminal was killed on Friday by, what the police said, the firing of his own accomplices during an encounter in the Kot Ladha graveyard.

Police found the body and weapons at the shootout scene.

City Police Officer (CPO) Sarfraz Ahmad Falki told reporters the Kot Ladha police got information that robbers snatched a motorcycle from local resident Sadar Sadam and fled.

On being alerted, Nowshera Virkan Station House Officer Safdar Atta Bhatti picketed various places to arrest the robber. Near Bhir Chowk picket, the robbers opened fire at police. The police also returned the fire and during the crossfire, robbers took cover in a nearby graveyard. After the firing stopped, the police entered the graveyard and saw the body of the alleged robber, who was later identified as Ansar Masalli, there. He was allegedly killed in the firing by his own accomplices who left the body behind and fled.

The police also found a pistol and a motorcycle on the deceased which the robbers snatched from Safdar Sadam.

The CPO said that Ansar Masali was the head of the gang and was involved in more than 30 cases of murder, robbery, dacoaity and kidnap for ransomin the district.

Mr Falki added that police teams had been formed to search the accomplice of Ansar Masali.

SMOG DRIVE: The district administration along with traffic police on Friday impounded 70 vehicles for emitting smoke during an anti-smog campaign.

Deputy Commissioner retired Lt Suhail Ashraf told reporters that the anti-smog campaign had been launched and different teams, under the supervision of the secretary of the Regional Transport Authority along with traffic police impounded 70 buses, minibuses, trollers, truck and rickshaws in different police stations and also imposed fine on dozens of the vehicles.

The DC added the secretary Impounded more than 970 vehicles on emitting smoke and impose Rs1 million fine on more than 3,000 vehicles.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2020