Dacoit killed in encounter

FAISALABAD: A dacoit, who had escaped from police custody, was killed in a police encounter in Thikriwala area within hours of his escape.

According to police, Shahid alias Heera escaped from Dijkot police custody at 9pm. Later, at around 1:45am, he was killed in an exchange of fire with Thikriwala police. SHO Abid Jutt and ASI Rana Sajid Mehmood led the operation, eliminating the suspect. The deceased criminal had brutally killed a rickshaw driver in a robbery incident by slitting his throat after looting Rs 300 and stealing his vehicle. He was also wanted in a case for the murder of an 18-month-old child, whom he had thrown into a sewer. The police have launched a search operation to apprehend accomplices of the killed suspect.

Meanwhile, another robber Usman alias Sunny was injured in an encounter with Dolphin Force and arrested along with weapons at Batala Colony. He was caught while attempting to rob a house, but tried to escape by firing at police from the rooftop. His accomplice, however, managed to flee.