The Punjab Police have continued to carry out alleged encounters across the province, with official records revealing 1,131 such incidents during the first nine months of this year.
According to police data, 484 suspects were killed, 738 were injured and 741 were arrested in what authorities described as retaliatory actions against armed criminals in various districts of the province.
The report stated that 15 police personnel were martyred and 108 sustained injuries during these encounters.
Police officials said that the suspects killed, injured or arrested during the encounters were wanted in cases of murder, attempted murder, gang rape, and previous attacks on police teams. Many of the suspects were also accused of involvement in armed robberies, kidnappings for ransom, and other serious offences, according to officials.
While the police have defended the encounters as part of their ongoing crackdown on violent crime, the large number of fatalities has also raised questions over the legitimacy of some of these operations. Human rights groups have repeatedly called for independent investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings in the province.
Despite the criticism, Punjab Police maintain that such actions are necessary to curb the rising tide of violent and organized crime, especially in high-risk districts where armed gangs and repeat offenders remain active.
Reporter: Israr Khan