Shooting encounter: Police reach on time to foil bank robbery

Former security guard, Sajid alias Commando, came to loot the Bolton Market branch of United Bank Limited.

KARACHI:

A former security guard of a private security company was arrested after an encounter with the police in Old City area on Saturday.

The encounter took place when the former security guard, Sajid alias Commando, along with his four associates came to loot the Bolton Market branch of United Bank Limited within the limits of Mithadar police station.

Police officials said that Sajid was the guard of the Shehzada Security Services but his company officials claimed to have terminated him on July 17. On-duty officer Mohammad Rashid told The Express Tribune that Sajid had also been deployed at the bank.

Sajid, along with four companions, reached the bank at early morning hours before the bank’s opening and held the security guards hostage at gunpoint. They waited for the bank managers to come so that they could rob the bank with their help.

The police immediately reached the site, however, the culprits opened fire at them. In retaliation, the police also fired at them and managed to arrest the ring leader, Sajid, while his aides escaped under the cover of firing. The police found a pistol from Sajid’s possession. The police have registered an FIR No.195/13 on behalf of the bank manager, Shaheryar Naeem, against them and initiated further investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2013.