ISLAMABAD: Two robbery suspects in custody were killed by their own accomplices during an encounter with the police, the police claimed on Friday.

According to the police, the suspects were involved in a ‘dacoity’ in which two people, including a policeman, were injured. Three separate cases had been registered in different police stations of the capital against them.

One of the FIRs registered at the Banigala police station said six riders of two motorcycles intercepted Manazir Hussain at the NIH Mor, about two kilometres from the Banigala police station, when he was returning home after buying floor and held him up at gunpoint.

Hussain put up resistance which led to brawl between them, it added.

During the brawl, one of the bike riders stabbed him in the back and another fired at him, however, the bullet missed him.

Later, the suspects took away Hussain’s motorcycle, a mobile phone and Rs12,000 cash, it said.

Another FIR registered at the Bhara Kahu police station about the same incident said a pair of Dolphin Squad, comprising four officials on two motorcycles, spotted six persons riding two motorcycles near Shahpur Road and on suspicion tried to intercept them. However, they ran away, the FIR said, adding the Dolphin Squad chased and intercepted them about 40 meters away. Three of the suspects managed to escape while the others opened indiscriminate firing at the police. As a result, Head Constable Nisar sustained a bullet injury to his abdomen while four bullets also hit the police station building.

Hearing the gunshots, the staff of the police station also reached the spot and overpowered the three suspects, according to the FIR. Interestingly, in the second FIR, there is no mention of the motorcycle snatched from Manazir Hussain at the NIH Mor.

The police statement on X not only had a different version but also mentioned Phulgran as the spot of the incident. It said during checking in Phulgran, the Dolphin Squad made an attempt to intercept some suspects. However, the suspects opened firing and escaped, it added.

Due to the firing, a police official was injured, it said, adding search had been conducted to trace the suspects.

When contacted, police spokesman Taqi Jawad claimed that the riders of a motorcycle had stabbed and injured a man during a snatching incident in Banigala and later escaped. He said the Dolphin Squad in the area was alerted after which the officials started chasing the motorcycle riders.

During the chase, the suspects reached Phulgran and found another pair of Dolphin Squad ahead of them and opened firing on them. As a result, he said, Head Constable Zaheer sustained two bullet injuries and the suspects escaped from the spot.

The FIR registered over the killing of the two suspects stated that during the investigation the three suspects told the police about the place where they had hidden the snatched motorcycle. In response, a five-member police team along with the suspects went to the place.

However, when they disembarked from the vehicle after reaching the place, the accomplices of the suspects in custody opened fire at the police, the FIR said. As a result, the two suspects sustained five bullets and were shifted to hospital.

The police also retaliated, however, the accomplices of the arrested suspects escaped, the FIR said. During the search, the police recovered the stolen motorcycle.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2024