RAWALPINDI, Nov 12: Four security officials and a civilian were found dead on Saturday after going missing the previous day following an unsuccessful attempt to catch a leader of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Jhangvi in Pir Chunbbal, one of the most dangerous areas in Jhelum district’s Pind Dadan Khan town.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the killings. Police contingents from Jhelum and Chakwal launched a joint operation in  Pind Dadan Khan after receiving intelligence that a group of militants were hiding in the treacherous hilly terrain of Pir Chunbbal. District police chiefs (DPOs) of Jhelum and Chakwal led the manhunt, which was called off after nightfall without any arrest.

According to security sources, it all started on Friday afternoon when Major Afaq Ahmed and three of his subordinates, Muhammad Mazhar, Mohammad Amjad, Mohammad Fiaz, along with a civilian Maqsood Ahmed, set out in search of Dr Arshad — suspected to be a leader of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, after getting reports that he was hiding in Pir Chunbbal.

Since the four intelligence personnel and the civilian did not report back, a search for the missing persons was ordered. The search threw up bodies of the five missing men in the hilly area.

After the bodies were recovered, a massive search operation was launched in the area, which continued till 7.30pm on Saturday.

However, no arrest was made by police during the operation.

City Police Officer Azhar Hameed Khokhar ordered an inquiry into the incident and suspended one inspector, three sub-inspectors and seven constables.

In addition to the suspension of 11 police officials, all staff of Bakshi Khana (lock-ups) and security staff deployed at the district court area has been removed and directed to report to police headquarters.

Those who were suspended by the CPO were Shafaqat Mehmood Sub-inspector, Sher Muhammad SI, Jhangeer Bhatti SI, and Inspector in charge second duty Ketchury, Arif gondal. The constables who faced the same fate were Tahir Mehmood, Waheed Ahmed, Mohammad Nazam, Asad Yar, Mohammad Quyoom, Adil Shahzad, Muhammad Adnan. All staff of Bakshi Khana and security duty staff was ordered to report to the Police Lines Headquarters.