Dr Akash murder case: three suspects killed in 'encounter'

KARACHI: Three men accused of murder of Dr Akash have been killed in a police encounter near Northern Bypass on Thursday, while the case took another turn with a judicial magistrate asking questions about the circumstances under which they were killed and why those people in police custody could be killed.

As per police reports, the SIU team had brought the suspects to Ahmed Brohi Goth in Gulshan-e-Maymar to get information about their accomplices and hideouts when some armed men started firing at the police team. It is reported that the firing exchange led to the death of the suspects and injury of one SIU police official.

The killed suspects have been identified as Suresh alias Sagar, Ram Chand and Anil. The police officials have informed that the three men have been arrested in relation to the murder of Dr Akash, who was shot dead during a robbery at a bank in Clifton.

SIU officials informed that the accused suffered fatal injuries in the exchange of gunfire and succumbed to death prior to reaching the hospital. A head constable was also injured and taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center whose condition was declared out of danger.

According to the police, the killers used 9mm pistols and 12-bore guns while carrying out the attack, and efforts to trace the accomplices who managed to escape after the attack were being made.

But the issue came under judicial notice when the investigating officer submitted a report to the Judicial Magistrate South. During the hearing, the investigating officer informed the court that the three suspects were killed because of the gunshots that were fired by their accomplices during the raid.

The magistrate doubted the police's explanation, saying, "What do you mean they were killed? They were in police custody."

The investigating officer further informed the court that the suspects were taken to the spot in order to assist the police in arresting their companions.

He said the suspects and a police official were injured in the firing and were shifted to hospital, where the accused were declared dead.

The court accepted the report as part of the judicial record and adjourned the hearing.

Separately, Sub-Inspector Qasim Tanoli submitted reports in four other cases registered against the deceased suspects. He said senior officials had directed investigators not to comment beyond the official version of events.

Police have described the incident as an alleged encounter. The official account has not been independently verified.