Two killed in alleged CCD encounters in Faisalabad: suspected shooter and dacoit dead
Two killed in alleged CCD encounters in Faisalabad: suspected shooter and dacoit dead
A suspected shooter and a dacoit were killed in the Faisalabad CCD encounters reported on Friday, two separate alleged shootouts with Crime Control Department personnel in the Dijkot area, police said.
Suspected shooter Sufyan was injured during an exchange of fire with CCD personnel near Kakkarwala Bypass. He was taken to hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
In the second incident, near Chechnalwala-Lunda Pull in Sandal Bar, suspected dacoit Muhammad Azam alias Billi was killed in what police described as another encounter. Police said he was wanted in several robbery cases.
What police say happened in the Faisalabad CCD encounters
According to police accounts, both incidents took place in the Dijkot locality of Faisalabad district and were reported on Friday, October 2. Sufyan, described by police as a suspected shooter, was wounded in firing near the Kakkarwala Bypass and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
In the Sandal Bar area, Muhammad Azam, known by the alias Billi, was killed near Chechnalwala-Lunda Pull. Police said he had been wanted in several robbery cases, according to the initial account released to the media.
The Crime Control Department is Punjab’s specialised unit tasked with cracking down on organised crime, robbery gangs and violent offenders. Its teams conduct raids and operations across the province, and deaths of suspects in “encounters” — armed exchanges with police — are regularly reported by the department.
Encounters remain a contested policing tactic
Police encounters, in which suspects are reported killed in retaliatory firing, remain one of the most contested aspects of policing in Punjab. Police maintain that such shootings occur when suspects open fire on raiding parties. Critics, including rights advocates, have long argued that some encounters amount to extrajudicial killings and have called for independent investigations.
Neither the CCD nor the Faisalabad police released further details about the criminal records of the two men beyond the initial statement on Azam’s alleged involvement in robbery cases. No police personnel were reported injured in either incident.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the Faisalabad CCD encounters?
Two men were killed in separate alleged encounters with Crime Control Department personnel in the Dijkot area of Faisalabad on October 2. Suspected shooter Sufyan died in hospital after being injured in firing near Kakkarwala Bypass, while suspected dacoit Muhammad Azam alias Billi was killed near Chechnalwala-Lunda Pull in Sandal Bar.
What is the CCD?
The Crime Control Department is a specialised Punjab police unit tasked with tackling organised crime, robbery gangs and violent offenders across the province.
Who was Muhammad Azam alias Billi?
Police described him as a suspected dacoit wanted in several robbery cases. He was killed in the encounter near Chechnalwala-Lunda Pull, Sandal Bar, according to the police account.
Are police encounters controversial in Pakistan?
Yes. Police say encounters happen when suspects fire on raiding parties, but rights advocates have questioned whether some amount to extrajudicial killings and have demanded independent probes.
