JHANG, March 22: Policemen, who had killed two proclaimed offenders and injured seriously another in an alleged encounter in Satellite Town on Nov 15 last, were found guilty of killing POs in custody on Wednesday. The judicial inquiry in this respect was conducted by magistrate Umar Hayat on a petition filed by the father of Shahid Jat, one of those killed.

According to the police version, Umardraz Baloch, Shahid Jat, Zaigham Abbas and Qaisar Sheikh, wanted in several cases of murder, robbery and dacoity, were declared POs. On Nov 15, the police had received information that the four POs were going towards Satellite Town by car (LZP-7428). A police party chased their vehicle, but criminals opened fire on it. The police also returned the fire and the encounter resulted in the death of two alleged criminals, Umardraz and Shahid, and serious injuries to Zaigham. However, their accomplice Qaisar, escaped from the scene, had been arrested the next day.

Meanwhile, the magistrate took some one-and-a-half-month to complete the inquiry during which the police produced 19 witnesses. After hearing arguments of both parties, the IO declared the encounter as fake. He also termed medico-legal certificates of inspector Akhtar Ali Wains and ASI Amanullah fake as the FIR suggested that officers had received bullet injuries while the MLC did not corroborate the police version.

DIRECTION: The district and sessions judge ordered the registration of a murder case against an ASI and five constables for torturing to death a youth in custody in October last.