LAHORE: The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) police Lahore claimed on Monday to have killed a suspected criminal in an ‘encounter’ in Kot Lakhpat area.

Identified as Farooq Dar, the suspect was known as ‘professional shooter/hired assassin’ and wanted in many criminal cases registered against him in various police stations of the city. It is said that he was also wanted to the Sri Lankan police and Interpol.

A police source said the suspect was in custody, showing his doubt on the police claim to kill him in an encounter.

A police official said the CIA police intercepted the suspect along with his accomplice in Kot Lakhpat area.

As the police signalled them, one of them opened fire on the CIA officials, he said adding that the personnel returned the fire.

Later, the police found Farooq Dar killed ‘in the firing by his accomplice,’ he said adding that the other suspect fled the scene.

To a question, he said, the notorious criminal had allegedly killed many people in Muridke, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Daska, Sahiwal and some other parts of the province.

He said Farooq Dar had also killed many people in Karachi and Sukkur. His body has been shifted to the city morgue for autopsy after lodging a case.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2021