AJK man shot dead resisting robbery

Kahuta police launch manhunt, fail to arrest culprits

RAWALPINDI:

A citizen was killed while another was injured for resisting a robbery in the Kahuta area in Rawalpindi.

According to a spokesperson for the police, the disturbing unfolded within the jurisdiction of the Kahuta police station where bandits opened fire on passengers during the robbery, killing one of the passengers and injuring the driver.

He further said the passenger bus was travelling from Kahuta to Lahore when the driver opted for a shorter route off the main path during nighttime. Upon stopping at a junction in Kahuta, the bus was surrounded by criminals who proceeded to rob the passengers of their valuables, including mobile phones and cash.

During the chaos, one passenger managed to apprehend a criminal inside the bus. This prompted other accomplices of the criminals to start shooting upon realising their companion was caught. Tragically, a passenger from Poonch Azad Kashmir lost his life due to a gunshot, and the bus driver, Akhtar Khan from Kahuta, sustained a severe gunshot wound to the abdomen, currently in critical condition. The criminals fled the scene.

Upon receiving the report, Kahuta SHO rushed to the spot with the police team. The deceased passenger and the injured driver were swiftly taken to the hospital. Inspector Aziz Aslam said a case is being registered based on the driver's account. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Operations SSP Hafiz Kamran Asghar took immediate action upon learning of the incident. He visited the site with senior officers and formed specialised teams under the leadership of DSP Kahuta to apprehend the culprits.

Hafiz Kamran Asghar stressed the use of all available resources, including modern technology and human intelligence, to expedite the arrest of the suspects.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2024.