Caught in the act: Three ‘robbers’ looting PECHS house shot dead

Two accomplices escape in exchange of fire between robbers, police

KARACHI: Three suspected robbers were shot dead while two of their accomplices managed to escape when they were busy looting inside a bungalow in PECHS Society on Tuesday.

The gang of robbers, comprising at least five members, entered a bungalow in PECHS Block-2 at 5am in the morning. They held the owner of a bungalow, a businessman named Haroon, and his family members hostage at gunpoint and started looting cash and other valuables.

One of the neighbours called the police helpline, Madadgar 15, and the police team rushed to the house. When they saw the law enforcers, the robbers opened fire. In the resulting exchange of fire, three suspects died on the spot, said Ferozabad SHO Kanson Dean. Two of their accomplices managed to escape. The police claimed to have seized cell phones, pistols, car and looted cash and other valuables from their possession.

The bodies of the robbers were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for identification, after their medico-legal formalities were completed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. SHO Dean said that the police have traced the suspects' families to identify them. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Drug peddler caught

Separately, District West police claimed to have killed a notorious drug peddler, Amanullah, during a raid conducted near D-1 bus stop in SITE Area.

Police officials claimed that the killed drug peddler was also involved in funding banned militant outfits and target killers. SITE SHO Ghulam Hussain Korai said that Amanullah has been involved in the drugs business in the Kati Pahari area for the past 10 years.

On Tuesday, the police intercepted him near the bus spot on a tip-off about his movement. They also recovered drugs, a hand grenade and a motorcycle from his possession. A case has been registered.

A police constable, Nafees, was also wounded in the exchange of fire and was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, Sindh IG Allah Dino Khowaja appreciated the police's prompt actions in foiling the house robbery and nabbing a drug peddler. He announced Rs200,000 for each police team.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2017.