RAWALPINDI: Two people, including an Elite Force commando and a suspect, were injured during an exchange of gunfire between police and members of a private housing society on Wednesday when police set out to arrest suspects nominated in a terrorism case registered with the Chontra police on Tuesday.

The injured were identified as Mohammad Almas, an Elite Force commando and Mohammad Sadiq (one of the suspects). A police party including Elite Force commandos came under attack on Wednesday night when they set out to investigate an incident that happened on Tuesday night between two rival groups involving exchange of gunfire.

As the police set out to arrest the suspects involved in the incident, they were able to escape, however, four of them were taken into custody by the commandos and police when their accomplices opened fire at the police party.

During exchange of gunfire, the other suspects were able to escape. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Waseem Riaz Khan, SP Saddar Ahmad Zaneer Cheema and other officials rushed to the spot.

A search operation was launched in the area by the police to arrest those who escaped. A first information report (FIR) of the incident was registered with the police for terrorism, attacking the police and other relevant sections of the law.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chontra police registered another FIR under the Terrorism Act and arrested eight people with a large number of weapons and ammunition.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2022