ISLAMABAD: A policeman was martyred and two suspected terrorists were killed in a shootout in the capital on Monday night, police said.

A police spokesperson told Dawn that the shootout took place in Karachi Company police precincts in Sector G-8. The deceased was identified as Head Constable Munawar. Three other policemen were injured in the exchange of fire.

According to police, their personnel were on a routine patrol and had set up a checkpoint at Jillani Chowk. They said the police personnel tried to stop two men on a motorcycle for routine checking when the riders opened fire at the police party.

Photographs of the crime scene, seen by Dawn, showed that at least one of the suspects was wearing what appeared to be surgical gloves and a woollen mask.

According to police, the four officials retaliated and all suffered bullet wounds. The terror suspects were killed on the spot, while the policemen were shifted to hospital, where the head constable was pronounced dead.

During the cross firing all sustained bullet injuries, and the suspects died on the spot, police said, adding that after getting the information the police shifted the injured officials to hospital where the head constable was pronounced dead. Two of the police officials are said to be in serious condition.

This is said to be the eighth incident of violence against police officers in Islamabad since Jan 7. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed took notice of the incident and asked the Islamabad inspector general of police to submit a report on the matter.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2022