The federal capital police arrested a suspect last week in connection with the robbery of cash vans from four banks. However, the suspect was killed in a police ‘encounter’ in Islamabad.
A Fatal Encounter
Media reported that investigators took the suspect into custody for interrogation.
Police claimed that three motorcyclists ambushed the police team near Golra Mor while the policemen were taking the suspect for ‘recovery.’ The attackers opened fire indiscriminately on the police, but none of the policemen sustained injuries as they were wearing bulletproof vests.
The detained suspect sustained bullet wounds and was taken to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.
Officials said that raids are being conducted to arrest the attackers, who allegedly tried to free the suspect from police custody.
The Suspect’s Criminal History
On Monday, addressing the press conference, police announced that the suspect was involved in the robbery of five cash vans at various locations.
The police said that stolen items including cash, weapons, and the motorcycle used in the robbery were recovered from the suspect. The suspect, a resident of Sargodha, had been living in Islamabad for the past four to five years and worked as an electrician.
A Disturbing Pattern
With the suspect’s death in the encounter, the total number of police encounters in Islamabad this year has risen to 36, resulting in the deaths of 13 suspects and injuries to 21, according to media reports.
According to the police, seven of these encounters occurred during raids aimed at arresting suspects, while 23 were direct confrontations between the police and the suspects.
In five of these incidents, including the recent one, the suspects allegedly attempted to free their companions from police custody.
The police claimed that in nearly all of these encounters, suspects resisted arrest and fired at the police.
In all these incidents, no police officers were harmed.
In many such encounters, suspects were either shot dead or injured. At times, it was alleged that the firing was done by the suspects’ own companions.
Interestingly, nearly all the FIRs related to these encounters are similar, stating that during routine patrols or checkpoints, police officers signaled suspects to stop, however, instead of complying with the orders, the suspects opened fire.
In some encounters, it is reported that while the police were taking the suspect for “recovery,” the individual’s associates ambushed the officers, resulting in either the death or injury of the suspect.