KASUR: Continuing with its [unannounced] policy on encounter known in police circles as ‘half fry’, Kasur police claimed to have recovered five suspected robbers in an injured condition after exchange of firing over a week.

In all five encounters, the police claimed that the injured robbers were shot by their own accomplices.

On Thursday, police arrested two alleged proclaimed offenders, one of whom was injured, who were wanted for robberies and drug peddling.

Police claimed that a CIA team raided the hideout of notorious drug pusher Ziaullah Bhatti in Kalian in Mustafabad police precincts. The suspects inside the house opened indiscriminate fire at the CIA raiding team. Police retaliated and besieged the house. After an exchange of fire, police arrested suspect identified as Amin from Kalian. They also recovered an injured accomplice, later identified as Waseem from Pakki Haveli. The police claimed that the suspects were wanted in several cases of robbery and drug peddling.

The police claimed that robber Waseem was injured by his own accomplices while exchanging fire with the police.

On Tuesday last, three accomplices of a robber in police custody attacked the police team near Roshan Bheela in an attempt to secure his release. The accomplices attacked the police while they were taking the alleged robber, Falk Sheir Odh, for recovery in a case registered with Sheikhum police. The police claimed that Odh’s accomplices mistakenly shot at and injured him. The injured Odh was taken to DHQ Hospital for medical care. The gang, led by Odh, was wanted by police in five districts of Punjab, including Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Sahiwal, and Kasur, for over 34 cases of robbery and house dacoity.

In a separate incident on Sunday, police recovered an injured robber after an encounter near Bhopaywal in Pattoki area. Four accomplices of the alleged robber attacked the police team while they were taking the suspect for recovery of stolen goods. The accomplices injured the robber in custody in an attempt to secure his release from the police. The injured man was rushed to the Pattoki THQ Hospital. Police lodged a case against the fleeing accomplices and are searching for them.

On Saturday last, Mustafabad police arrested a suspected robber in a wounded condition, reportedly shot by his own accomplices while exchanging fire with police on Stadium Road. The suspect later identified as Asif alias Aso of Kahna Lahore, was wanted in 13 cases of robbery and house dacoity.

On Friday last, Saddar police arrested a robber in an injured condition following an encounter near Adda Naul. The suspect later identified as Imran of Sheikhupura, was wanted by Kasur and Sheikhupura police in over 27 cases of heinous crimes. The injured robber was hospitalised.

All received bullet injuries to their knees.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024