DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A proclaimed offender was killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Parova here on Tuesday, an official said.

Dera police spokesman Yaqub Zulqarnain said that a team by Parova circle police was conducting snap checking when three outlaws fired on them. He said that the policemen retaliated to the fire, in which an assailant was killed. His two accomplices escaped, he added.

The killed outlaw was identified as Imtiaz of Parova, who was wanted by the police in several cases of robbery, theft and extortion, the police spokesman said. The police also recovered a 30-bore pistol, 39 cartridges and a motorcycle from him. He said the police had started a search for the two fleeing outlaws.

Meanwhile, district police officer Abdul Rauf Babar Qaisrani on Tuesday directed the authorities to formulate a comprehensive security plan, especially in remote areas of the district. He issued the directives during a visit to the checkposts in remote Chunda and Abba Shaheed areas in the limits of Yarik and Dera town police stations.

Mr Qaisrani also met the staff at the checkposts and inquired about their problems.

Separately, the police on Tuesday arrested five accused, including an absconder, and recovered weapons, ammunition and stolen items from their possession during the ongoing crackdown on anti-social elements.

An official said a team of Shaheed Nawab police station arrested an absconder, Samiullah of Badnikhel area, and recovered a Kalashnikov along with 15 cartridges from him.

The absconder was wanted by the police in murder and attempted murder cases.

Similarly, a team of Saddar police station arrested three accused, including Sardar Khan, Mohammad Shoaib and Abdul Rehman, residents of Taxila, and recovered a stolen car, a pistol, two ATM cards, and other items from them.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2023