Two suspects killed, another injured as ‘encounters’ continue

Published March 31, 2026
Punjab Police personnel. — AFP/File
Punjab Police personnel. — AFP/File

LAHORE: As the flurry of alleged police encounters continue across Punjab, two suspects were shot dead by the Crime Control Department (CCD) while another was injured by police in separate incidents in Lahore and other districts on Monday.

In Lahore, a suspect was shot dead during an alleged encounter with the CCD.

According to the CCD story, it had set up a picket at Bhobatian Chowk where they signalled two armed bike riders to stop for identification. One of the riders opened fire on the CCD personnel who remained unhurt. The CCD returned fire which led to an armed clash between the two sides.

The department claimed that during crossfire, one of the suspects, later identified as Azmat, was found shot dead. Just like all other alleged encounter stories, the CCD claimed that Azmat was shot dead by firing of his own accomplice who had fled.

The CCD shifted the body to the morgue for autopsy.

TOBA TEK SINGH: A suspect who was in custody of the CCD until a day back was shot dead in an alleged encounter with the department’s personnel in the Bachiana area on Monday.

The CCD officials claimed that Junaid, a resident of Chak 562-GB, had escaped from its custody a day back. They received a tip-off about the presence of Junaid and his accomplices in the forest near Chak 1-GB, Chakomor, and CCD Jaranwala team, headed by Inspector Adeel Shaukat conducted a raid. The suspect opened fire on the CCD team and after an exchange of fire, Junaid was arrested in an injured condition while his unidentified accomplices managed to escape. Junaid was shifted to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

According to CCD, Junaid had attempted to kidnap a woman from the ​​Lundianwala police area some years back along with his cousin, Bilal, and others. He had killed two persons by firing on resistance.

About two months ago, Junaid had killed 50-year-old Sarfaraz who had quarreled with his friend.

The CCD claimed that Junaid was wanted in four cases of murder and attempted murder and also worked as a hired assassin in Faisalabad and other districts.

The CCD further claimed that from 2020 to 2025, about five people were killed in an attack by Junaid and his accomplices in Chak 562-GB and 563-GB in the Bachiana area.

A suspect was arrested in an injured condition after an alleged encounter with Satiana police in Faisalabad.

Police claimed Allah Ditta and his five accomplices on motorcycles were signalled to stop by a team, headed by SHO Asif, at a checkpoint near Chak 131-GB Mor but they opened fire and fled towards Chak 91-GB, Jagatpura. Police pursued them, intercepted them and exchanged fire. When the firing stopped, Allah Ditta was found injured. In this case also, the police claimed, the suspect was hit by the fire of his own companions who surprisingly, as always, escaped taking advantage of darkness.

A motorcycle and 1.5kg kg of heroin were also recovered from Allah Ditta. The injured suspect was sent to hospital. The police claimed that he was wanted in 38 cases.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026

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