LAHORE: A Dolphin Force personnel allegedly shot at and injured a trader during an anti-robbery operation at a shop in Islampura area here on Saturday, taking him for one of the two robbers who had already fled the scene.

Identified as Abdul Jabbar, the injured shopkeeper was taken to hospital where his condition is said to be stable.

The injured shopkeeper later told the media that he had called police for help after two robbers barged in his shop and took him and some customer hostage at gunpoint.

He said as the robbers tried to take away valuables, he overpowered one of them and snatched his pistol.

During the scuffle, Jabbar said, the other robber threatened to open fire if he did not let his accomplice go. He said that succumbing to the threat, he did what he was told to do. Both the robbers, he said, then fled the scene.

Meanwhile, the Dolphin Squad personnel arrived there, Mr Jabbar said, adding they seemed “absolutely unprofessional”.

He said as soon as the policemen entered his shop, one of them opened fire, assuming he (Jabbar) was one of the robbers.

Alarmed as the Dolphin man was about to fire second shot, the customers present in the shop immediately intervened and told the policeman that the man he was targeting was the shop owner.

Realising their mistake, the Dolphin personnel immediately left, the shopkeeper said and demanded the police high-ups should launch an inquiry into the incident so that such unprofessional policemen could be penalised.

So far, the police authorities have taken no action against the Dolphin team involved in the incident.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020