Cop gunned down

Islamabad : Another officer (ASI) of the Islamabad police has been martyred in police encounter with gang of criminals during a raid at hideout at village Band Booti falling in the jurisdiction of Wah Cantonment.

A ringleader of bike jackers, identified as Nazim Hussain was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) and on his information hideout of another key member of the gang identified as Zahid was traced out. Zahid is also wanted to the CIA of the Islamabad police in different case. The Islamabad police spokesman said that a team of CIA was sent to Wah Cantonment after locating the hideout of the gang.

The team led by ASI Shakil Ahmad, after fulfilling legal requirements, reached the scene and cordoned off the hideout early Thursday morning, the spokesman said adding that they asked gangsters loudly to come out and surrender before the police but the gangsters opened firing at police party.

Two bullets hit ASI Shakil in the chest who died on the spot while the gangsters made their escape good.

The Rawalpindi police said that City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Mohammad Ehsen Younas, taking notice of the incident, asked for report.

Meanwhile, SP (Potohar) Syed Ali reached the scene along with station house officer (SHO) Wah Cantonment and heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces and initiated search operation to arrest the gangsters.

SP (Potohar) summoned experts from the Punjab Forensic Laboratory who collected evidences of gangsters and got their fingerprints from the hideout.

Another team of CIA has reached there with their experts to chase the criminals at large.

The police of the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad claimed that the gangsters would arrested within 36 hours.

Later, the funeral prayer of martyred ASI Shakeel Butt was held at the Police Lines Headquarters.

Interior Minister Brigadier (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Muhammad Aamir Zulfqar Khan and other police officials attended the funeral prayer.