Shooter gang kingpin killed in CCD encounter in Attock Khurd

RAWALPINDI: The Crime Control Department (CCD) has killed the alleged ringleader of a notorious contract-killing gang in an encounter at Rumian Link Road in Attock Khurd after the suspect allegedly opened fire on a police team, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Shah Saud, a resident of Akora Khattak, who was wanted in multiple murder and contract-killing cases in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to investigative sources.

A senior CCD official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department had received information that Saud, who was wanted in a double-murder case, was hiding at the residence of an alleged facilitator in Attock Khurd.

“When our team reached Rumian Link Road, he opened indiscriminate fire with an AK-47 without warning. The police team returned fire in self-defence,” the official said.

Another officer involved in the operation claimed that the suspect fired more than 12 rounds while attempting to evade arrest. Police reportedly recovered an automatic weapon and two mobile phones from the scene.

According to sources, the mobile phones are being examined for information allegedly linked to contract-killing arrangements and the gang’s wider network.

Investigators said Saud was wanted in seven cases in Punjab and nine cases in KP, most of them allegedly involving contract killings.

Sources further claimed that Saud had escaped from police custody around two months ago after being arrested in connection with a double-murder case. The CCD is investigating whether anyone inside the system facilitated his escape.

Investigators said the gang allegedly charged between Rs1 million and Rs2 million for targeted killings, particularly in cases involving land disputes and personal enmity.

SI Adnan Ghayour Martyred in Separate Operation

In a separate CCD operation in Chaklala on the same day, Sub-Inspector Adnan Ghayour was killed while attempting to arrest an accused identified as Umar Khan.

A CCD spokesperson said Ghayour “sacrificed his life in the line of duty” during the operation.

The spokesperson described Umar Khan as a dangerous suspect and said that, on the orders of the inspector general, three special teams had been constituted to arrest him.

“He will be arrested soon,” the spokesperson said.

CCD Expansion and Crime Control

Government sources told Minute Mirror that the decision to expand the CCD across Punjab at the tehsil, district and divisional levels followed an assessment of its reported performance against serious crime.

An official source claimed that serious crime had declined by 55% in Sahiwal and 59% in Sargodha following CCD operations. The source also claimed that kidnapping for ransom had fallen by 100%, while dacoity had declined by 85% in Bahawalpur and Gujranwala.

The department is also being equipped with AI-based tracking systems and modern forensic tools, officials said, as authorities seek to target organised criminal networks.

CCD investigators are currently analysing data recovered from the mobile phones allegedly belonging to Saud. Further arrests could follow if investigators identify other members or facilitators linked to the alleged network.