LAKKI MARWAT: Two armed suspects belonging to a bandit gang were arrested in injured condition after an exchange of fire with police in Tor Dhand area of Karak early on Thursday. The outlaws confessed during initial interrogation to have murdered student leader Babar Adeel.

Talking to media-persons at his office on Thursday, DPO Karak district Imran Khan said that the attack took place within the limits of the city police station while the police party was on patrol duty.

“When the cops signaled two suspects traveling on a motorcycle to stop, they instead opened fire in a bid to escape”, he said, adding that the law enforcers returned fire, triggering a gun battle.

Flanked by SP Investigation Kamal Hussain, he said that an additional force was dispatched to the area when he learned about the attack on the police party.

One suspect succumbs to injuries, hunt on to arrest other gang members

He said that the police seized arms and ammunition from the arrested suspects identified as Muhammad and Mujahid, residents of Guddikhel. “Mujahid, who was arrested in injured condition, later succumbed to injuries during treatment at a local hospital,” he claimed.

The DPO claimed that during initial interrogation, injured suspect Mujahid made startling revelations about the murder of Babar Adeel, telling police that he and other members of the gang had also been involved in robberies, motorcycle snatching and other heinous crimes.

On the pointation and identification of arrested suspects, the police raided suspected places in the Ganderi Khattak Paila, Indez Morr, Mianki Banda and Takht-i-Nasrati and seized several motorcycles including the one snatched from Babar Adeel, spare parts of snatched and stolen vehicles and mobile phones.

Mr Imran said that other members of the gang included Tasneef Iqbal, a resident of Ganderi, Nasir, a resident of Mianki Banda and Ghafoor, a resident of Kurrum district, adding that raids are being carried out to ensure their arrest.

“Police are also investigating the reported links of the gang with owners of vehicles and motorcycles’ bargain centres,” he added.

Babar Adeel, 21, was killed by armed motorcyclists on the night of April 14 when he was going to Sabirabad from Karak city on his motorcycle, according to an FIR.

DPO Imran further said that the murder of Babar Adeel had become a test case for the police as eight teams were working on it to trace the murders and ensure their arrest.

“During the last two weeks, police apprehended 90 suspects in connection with the murder of the student leader and conducted verification of 85 motorcycles,” he claimed.

He reaffirmed that the police were fully committed to protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026