SAHIWAL: The ringleader of a gang that had murdered a young shepherd for showing resistance against snatching his eight buffaloes at Chak 131/9-L on June 1 was killed in an alleged encounter with the Crime Control Department (CCD).

Muhammad Imran, 19, a resident of Chak 131/9-L, had taken his buffaloes worth Rs8m for grazing to his fields in the afternoon. When he and his buffaloes did not return in the evening, his family and local villagers launched a search in surrounding villages but found no trace.

The family contacted police via the 15 the next day. Dera Rahim Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons on the complaint of Imran’s elder brother, Shan Ali.

In a separate development, the CCD received a tip-off that animals’ traders in a truck were attempting to sell buffaloes at Chak 92/B, Dal Waryam, near River Ravi. Acting swiftly, the CCD raided the area, seized the animals and interrogated the animal traders who failed to produce valid sale/purchase receipts of the eight buffalos.

During further interrogation, the suspects confessed to stealing the buffaloes and killing Imran on resistance.

Animal traders disclosed the location of the murder. SHO Subha-e-Sadiq of Dera Rahim Police along with CCD recovered Imran’s body from the maize fields 3km away from his home on June 3. Police stated the body bore multiple stab wounds.

The police added murder sections to the FIR. Sources revealed that the arrested robbers admitted involvement in more than a dozen livestock theft cases across Punjab.

On Sunday, the ring leader of the gang, Zulqarnain, was killed in an alleged encounter. However, the details of the encounter are missing.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026