Mistaken identity: Robber shot dead by ‘accomplice’ in crossfire

Woman and child also injured in the incident; one suspect remains at large.

RAWALPINDI:

A robber was gunned down on Tuesday after he, along with two accomplices, broke into a house in Khayaban-e-Sir Syed in the jurisdiction of the Pirwadhai Police Station.

Eye-witness Muhammad Faiz, while speaking to The Express Tribune, said that three robbers had broken into a house owned by Sulaiman Shah in Muslim Mohalla near Muhammadi Chowk in broad daylight.

“Family members inside the house started shouting for help after seeing that the robbers were holding weapons. They offered resistance, after which the robbers opened fire on them, injuring a woman and a four-year-old child,” said Faiz.

People gathered around the house upon hearing gun shots and attempts were made to overpower the robbers, precipitating an exchange of fire, he added.

“As a result, one of the robbers, identified as Rameez, was gunned down. Another, Saleem Khan, was arrested while the third, whose name could not be ascertained, managed to escape,” said Faiz.

He said locals beat Khan, who had sustained severe injuries, after which he was handed over to the police.

The injured woman, identified as Nageena, and the child, Usman, were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) where doctors say they are in a stable condition.

Investigation Officer Sub-Inspector Muhammad Akbar has a different take on the incident, claiming that Rameez was actually killed by his accomplice’s bullet.

“Rameez was mistaken for a local by his accomplices, who opened fire on him while fleeing the area, killing him on the spot,” he said.

Akbar said Khan was being interrogated in the hope of obtaining more information.

The police have registered a case for attempted murder and robbery against the suspects.

Rameez’s body has been shifted to DHQ where a post-mortem will be conducted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2013.