LAHORE: A sub-divisional officer (SDO) of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) was shot dead by some unidentified bikers in Millat Park here on Friday.

Police said Rai Ziad Ahmad, 40, of Pindi Bhattian, Hafizabad, was posted at Ittehad Colony division office.

Preliminary police inquiries showed that Rai Ziad was heading on his car after leaving the office when two suspects, riding a motorcycle, fired several shots at him at the Multan Road traffic signal at Scheme Mor.

Ziad, who was living in Valencia Town and was married a few years ago, received bullets while his subordinate and a cousin escaped unhurt. The injured SDO was transported to Shaikh Zayed Hospital where he expired after some time.

The Lesco chief executive told reporters their field officers were being targeted for crackdown on power thieves as another Lesco officer had been shot at and wounded in Iqbal Town area a few months ago.

DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf said initial findings suspected his enmity with in-laws, adding a pistol was also recovered from the possession of the deceased. He said the victim was shot twice and his car was also partially damaged in the firing.

He said police had taken necessary evidence from the crime scene and recorded statements of his subordinate and other witnesses.

Meanwhile, police shifted the body to a hospital for an autopsy, registered a murder case against unidentified suspects and began investigation.

ROBBERY: Muggers injured a trader and plundered cash and valuables worth Rs1 million during four strikes in the provincial capital on Friday.

Police said two robbers entered the shop of Asad Raza on Rifle Range Road in Defence A police remit and snatched cash and valuables. The suspects also shot at and wounded Asad on resistance.

Two outlaws barged in the house of Abdul Faheem in PIA Housing Society in Sattokatla police station limits and escaped after looting cash and valuables worth Rs285,000.

Some robbers targeted the timber shop of Alam Raza in Timber Market on Ravi Road and looted Rs700,000.

Two armed men struck the house of Danish in Street 26 in Mustafa Town police station limits and escaped after looting cash and jewellery.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014