Two Afghan robbers killed in 'encounter'

ISLAMABAD:

Two Afghan nationals held in custody in robbery cases were killed in an alleged exchange of fire between police and their accomplices in the Shahzad Town area, police said.

According to a police spokesperson, a team took the suspects, identified as Abdullah and Malhay Khan, to a scrapyard near Rawal Town on the basis of their disclosures to arrest their accomplices and recover stolen property.

Four armed suspects hiding in a nearby forest allegedly opened indiscriminate fire on the police team in an attempt to free the two detainees. Abdullah and Malhay Khan sustained bullet wounds in the firing, while the police personnel remained unharmed due to bulletproof jackets and other safety measures.

The injured suspects were shifted to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their wounds.

The spokesperson said both men were Afghan nationals and had been arrested in a case registered with Secretariat police over the alleged snatching of a mobile phone from a woman, an attempt to rape her and causing her injuries. They were on physical remand at the time of the incident.

Their accomplices fled under the cover of darkness, and a search operation was under way to arrest them, the spokesperson added.