Policeman’s shot killed minor girl in crossfire during encounter, admits DIG

Local police on Saturday confessed that the 10-year old girl who was shot dead during a police encounter with robbers in Karachi’s Defence area on August 13 was killed by police fire, a private media outlet reported.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Javed Alam Odho while speaking at a press conference confirmed that it was a bullet fired by a policeman that led to the unintentional death of 10-year-old Amal and assured that an appropriate action has been taken against the policemen involved in the encounter.

The DIG regretted the loss of an innocent life but added that the police had to shoot to kill the robber, otherwise, the suspect might have gunned down the policeman in question.

The senior official disclosed that he has requested the authorities concerned to change the standard issue weapon to one other than the AK-47 rifle as this weapon usually carried by policemen is highly dangerous.

He said that the inquiry into the case has been completed and on the basis of the inquiry report, he has ordered the lodging of a First Information Report (FIR) against the policeman so further legal action can be taken.

The DIG stated that a police party, which was on patrol, was informed by a couple of families that at least two armed men in a rickshaw were intercepting passersby and snatching their valuables at gunpoint.

“After some efforts, the police spotted two suspects in Akhtar Colony. As our mobile van approached them, one of them fired shots at us and the situation sparked an exchange of gunfire,” a police official told the media while informing that one of the was killed and the other ran away.

However, when the guns fell silent after a few minutes, the girl, who was passing by the area in a car along with her family, was also found dead.