Three ‘robbers’ killed in ‘encounter’

Two passersby also sustained injuries during the incident

BAHAWALPUR:

Three alleged robbers were killed by the firing of their own accomplices during an encounter with Sadar Police on Tuesday, police said.

They alleged that the slain “robbers” belonged to Jhang and wanted by the police in many cases.

Police said Dolphin personnel on routine patrol duty tried to stop some “suspicious” people who had been riding a motorcycle the other day.

However, instead of stopping their motorcycle, the accused opened fire on police, injuring policemen Asad Mehmood and Muhammad Yusuf.

Two passersby were also injured during the firing by the alleged robbers.

Police arrested three suspects who had sustained injuries during police’s retaliatory firing.

On Tuesday, Bahawalpur police were taking suspects Nawaz, Maqsood and Naeem Bakhsh to recover their motorcycles and weapons.

When they reached Mauza Panwan, four or five armed men appeared from nowhere and opened fire in a bid to free their men.

The three suspects were killed by the firing of their own men, police alleged.

The SHO of Saddar Police Station, Muslim Zia, said that police had mounted a search for the absconding accused who were responsible for killing their accomplices.

Meanwhile, the DPO of Bahawalpur, Syed Muhammad Abbas, visited the Dolphin Force personnel and the student who had been injured by the firing of the slain suspects.

The DPO appreciated the performance of the police personnel and also provided financial assistance to the injured student.

Nearly 10 days ago, an alleged robber was killed while another fled by taking advantage of the dark during an alleged police encounter in Batala Colony, police had said.

Police started searching for his accomplice by seizing the motorcycle and pistol from the deceased after shifting his body to a hospital.

Police said that ASI Imtiaz Ahmed of Batala Colony Police Station, who had been on patrol duty, signaled two “suspicious people” on a motorcycle to stop during a blockade in Haji Chowk, Sarfraz Colony, around 5:30 a.m.

Police said the “armed suspects” allegedly opened fire on police personnel. The police fired in self-defence in which 34-year-old Muhammad Asif, a resident of Street Number 13 of Mohalla Shadipura, was injured while his accomplice escaped by taking advantage of the dark.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2023.