The Crime Control Department (CCD) claimed to have gunned down five wanted criminals in two police encounters overnight.
One encounter took place near Chak No. 77/WB, where a CCD team was patrolling to check criminal activity.
According to the police, seven armed men had blockade a main road with the intention of committing a robbery. As soon as they spotted a police vehicle, the suspects opened fire.
The CCD officials retaliated, taking cover behind their vehicle and nearby barriers. When the exchange of fire ended, three of the attackers were found critically injured by the roadside and they later died of their wounds. The four accomplices of the deceased managed to flee in the dark on two motorcycles towards Chak No. 81/WB.
The police found national identity cards of the deceased, identifying them as Zakir Hussain, who was wearing a police uniform, Ahmed and Javed.
Police officials said the men had long criminal records.
The police seized a 12-bore pump-action gun, two 30-bore pistols, a motorcycle without a number plate and three mobile phones from the spot.
Later in the night, another encounter occurred near Chak No. 83/WB.
A CCD team signaled two motorcycles carrying four armed suspects to stop, but instead, the men opened fire on the police vehicle.
The police returned fire, during which two men were killed, while their two accomplices escaped into nearby maize fields under the cover of darkness.
The deceased were identified through their ID cards as Tariq and Naveed. Both had criminal histories, with involvement in at least 21 cases of crimes including robberies, vehicle thefts and firing, the police said.
The police seized two pistols, three motorcycles, including a stolen bike with the case registered in Donga Bonga police station, and two mobile phones.
