Suspected robber 'killed in encounter'

OKARA:

A suspected robbers was killed in an exchange of fire after a citizen reported a house robbery in Khalilabad on the police helpline.

As soon as the police reached the spot, the robbers opened fire on them. The police retaliated and the shooting ceased after a brief exchange of fire.

The suspected robber was found dead after the crossfire. Police officials claimed that he had been killed by the gunfire of his own accomplices.

Cash and a national identity card were found on the spot, while the accomplices of the deceased fled.

The Dipalpur City SHO said teams had been formed to track down the fleeing robbers. The deceased was identified as Zaheer Abbas alias Zaheeri, the leader of a gang of robbers. The oleic said he was involved in 17 cases of robbery and banditry in Lahore, Okara and other districts.

In another incident, the police apprehended two men accused of sexually assaulting a girl in the Shah Bhore area and registered a case against them.

District Police Officer Rashid Hidayat stated that the 18-year-old victim was alone at home in the 26-4/L area when she was assaulted.

According to the complainant, suspects Ishaq and Ghulam Hussain broke into the house along with an unidentified accomplice and assaulted the girl at gunpoint after threatening to kill her.

The police registered a case based on the widow's complaint and apprehended both the suspects.

Officials said they were conducting raids to apprehend their accomplice.