Three Under-Custody Suspects Killed in Alleged Police Encounters in Lahore
LAHORE – In a series of alleged police encounters, three under-custody suspects were killed during separate operations conducted by the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Lahore. Officials claim the suspects were fatally shot by their own accomplices during attempts to rescue them from police custody.
According to a CCD spokesperson, the first incident occurred in the Civil Lines area, where two suspects, Abid and Dilawar, were being taken to recover stolen items and identify crime scenes linked to multiple robbery cases. While en route, unknown assailants opened fire on the police team in a bid to free the detainees.
During the crossfire, both suspects were killed — allegedly struck by bullets fired by their own accomplices. Police revealed that both men had prior criminal records and were involved in several theft and robbery cases.
The second encounter took place in North Cantonment, where CCD officers were engaged in a similar recovery operation. A 26-year-old suspect named Hassan was fatally shot when the police team reportedly came under attack by his accomplices.
Police have stated that all three suspects were habitual offenders, and investigations into the incidents are ongoing. However, human rights groups have frequently raised concerns about the credibility of such “encounters,” which they claim often lack transparency and judicial oversight.
