Bank shooter killed in police custody

LAHORE:

The cashier of a local college who had shot dead three people at a bank on Wahdat Road was killed in police custody when his accomplice shot at the police team escorting him, police said.

They said some citizens had caught Abdullah, a cashier at Government Science College, Wahdat Road, as he fled the bank and handed him over to police. They said they were taking him to the man he said had provided him the gun when the latter shot him dead.

Earlier, Abdullah had shot dead three bank employees, including an assistant  manager, in Allama Iqbal Town’s Kareem Block. Four other people were injured in the shooting which according to police and witnesses was not a robbery attempt. They said it appeared that Abdullah had personal enmity with one of the bank workers.

Iqbal Town SP Muhammad Iqbal said Abdullah had used an automatic assault rifle in the attack. He first shot Muhammad Khalid, the security guard, and then killed Nasir Tahir, the assistant manager, and Suhail Hassan, another bank employee. All three died instantly, the SP said.

Four bank customers – Muhammad Hussain, Sobia, Sidrah and Sikander – also received injuries and were taken to Jinnah Hospital. SP Iqbal said Sobia and Sidrah were discharged after they were given first aid. Sikander and Hussain had received three bullets each.

SP Iqbal said Abdulllah had apparently embezzled nearly Rs2.5 million from college funds by faking the principal’s signature. He said the bank had discovered the forged signature and informed police.

He said Abdullah was fleeing the bank when some people caught him and handed him over to police.

Sikander told The Express Tribune the bank employees were talking politely with Abdullah when he started shooting. CCPO Ameen Wains said it appeared that it was not a robbery attempt.

Police have registered an FIR under Sections 302 (murder) and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act against Abdullah’s aid who according to police had provided him the gun.

Police said they had also arrested the college principal and were questioning him.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered the CCPO to submit a report on the incident. He also expressed grief over the deaths and prayed for the deceased. The chief minister has also directed police to tighten security for banks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2015.