ISLAMABAD: Once again an under-custody suspect was killed by his accomplices in an encounter with the police in the capital, the police claimed on Friday.

The number of suspects killed by their accomplices while in police custody increased to three within a short period of five days. Two suspects allegedly involved in a robbery-cum-murder case were murdered on Sep 7.

The latest incident took place around midnight at Japan Road in Kirpa, but till the filing of this report at around 8pm on Friday, an FIR had not been registered.

The suspect was in police custody on a four-day physical remand, the police said, claiming that he was wanted in connection with murder, dacoity, theft and illegal arms cases.

A police team took the suspect to Japan Road for the recovery of looted items. However, as soon as the suspect was taken out of the vehicle by the police, four persons riding two motorcycles, all of a sudden, opened fire on them.

“Two police officials came under fire, but remained unhurt due to precautionary measures,” the police claimed, adding, however, that the suspect in police custody was received bullet injuries. He was shifted to Pims where he died. The police also claimed, “The dacoits wanted to free their accomplice from police custody. After the shooting, the attackers escaped by taking advantage of the darkness.”

On September 7, the police claimed the killing in a similar manner of two suspects, arrested in connection with a robbery they had committed along with their accomplices and looted Rs26.2 million from a cash van and murdered a security guard. As per the police claim and the FIR, a police team took the arrested suspects to a place where the gang members had met and planned the robbery, to arrest their two accomplices.

However, the two suspects in custody of the police were killed from the firing of their accomplices when they reached the spot, and the police personnel remained unhurt.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2024