OKARA: A station house officer and a suspected robber were injured in a ‘shoot-out’ at 11/D Village road in Basirpur police precincts on Monday.

As per first information report, Basirpur SHO Farrukh Hussain along with a police team was patrolling when a call was received on 15. The call reported that two unidentified men on an unregistered motorcycle had robbed a passer-by near the Wan Machi locality, snatching cash, mobile phones, and other valuables. The suspects were reportedly heading toward the 11/D Village area.

The SHO rushed to the spot and called for reinforcements from nearby Haveli and other patrolling teams via wireless communication. When the suspects spotted the approaching police vehicles, they opened fire.

The police retaliated while taking cover behind their vehicles. During the exchange, SI/SHO Ijaz Bhatti of Haveli was hit by gunfire and critically injured. He was shifted to the Dipalpur THQ Hospital for treatment.

The shoot-out continued for some time. Using searchlights, police found an injured man lying in a maize field near the road. His accomplice managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Police recovered a firearm with four live rounds and Rs50,000 in cash, which had been stolen earlier.

Meanwhile, the robbery victims - Shaukat and two others - arrived at the scene and identified the injured suspect. During questioning, suspect Tariq Wattoo revealed the identity of his accomplice, Saleem Wattoo, from Makhna Thakkarka village in Dipalpur tehsil.

The injured policeman, SI/SHO Ijaz Bhatti, was later referred to Lahore General Hospital, where he underwent a surgery. DPO Muhammad Raashid Hidayat visited the hospital to inquire about his condition.

On the complaint of SHO Farrukh Hussain, a case was registered under sections 324, 353, and 186 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with sections 13-2(a) of the Punjab Arms Ordinance 2015 and section 20 of the Punjab Arms Ordinance 1965.

STABBED TO DEATH: An agriculturist while irrigating fields was stabbed to death at Village Mauza Akbar on Monday.

According to the FIR, Ishaq had a land dispute with a family from the same village, led by Khushi Muhammad. While Ishaq was watering his fields, Khushi Muhammad, accompanied by his sons Ali Sher, Haider Ali, Abdul Rehman and an unidentified accomplice, arrived at the scene. At the same time, Ishaq’s wife Nazia had also come to the fields to bring him his meal.

The suspects overpowered Ishaq and began assaulting him. During the attack, Ali Sher allegedly used a sharp-edged weapon to stab Ishaq, causing severe bleeding. Ishaq collapsed to the ground, critically injured. Seeing his condition, the suspects fled the scene.

Gogera police have registered a case under sections 302, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of Ishaq’s wife.

The Gogera police claimed to have arrested three suspects involved in the incident.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024