2 policemen killed, three injured in robbers’ attack

SANGHAR: Two policemen were killed and three were injured when a group of robbers opened fire at them early Saturday.

The policemen were patrolling the Nawabshah-Sanghar Road when they saw the thieves and tried to stop them. However, the gang of six armed thieves opened indiscriminate fire at the police using automatic weapons and Kalashnikovs.

Head constable Arif Gul Pathan and Wahid Gul Zardari died on the spot while three policemen, Inayat, Munawer Ali Khanzada and Muharram Ali Zardari received critical wounds. They were rushed to People’s Medical College where Wahid succumbed to his injuries.

The police surrounded the area after the incident but the robbers managed to flee.

According to PPI news agency, DPO Sanghar also reached the spot and managed to arrest 11 suspects with the help of the police force.

The police have arrested a landlord Waris Khan Rind, Misry Talpur, Dinu Talpur and eight other men, who have been locked up at different police stations, PPI added.

The Sinjhoro police have registered an FIR and initiated investigations.

The funeral for the victims was held at Police Line ground and was attended by DIG Mirpurkhas Din Muhammad Baloch, district administrator Rasul Buksh Samejo, DPO Ishfaq Alam Khan and other officers.

Pathan’s body was taken to his hometown Chak No.2, Gijri, while Wahid’s body was taken to Muharram Zardari village for burial.

DIG Mirpurkhas announced a payment of Rs2 million each for the victims’ families and the payment of their salaries for the next 60 years. The police department will also give plots to the victims’ families.

The injured victims will be given Rs0.3 million each, Baloch said, adding that four police parties have been formed with orders to arrest suspects within 24 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2010.