3 killed, 2 injured in police encounter, robbery

FAISALABAD:

The police claimed on Thursday to have killed two robbers in a shootout. Another robber was shot dead by a guard of a medical store.

Police spokesman Aamir Waheed told newsmen that three men riding a motorbike tried to snatch a bag Muhammad Shahid near Shehzad Colony. Shahid resisted and raised alarm.

Waheed said a police squad reached the scene told robbers to surrender. They instead shot at the squad. Constable Muhammad Shafiq, who was later shifted to the hospital for treatment, received bullet injuries in the firing.

“The police called for back up and Saddar SHO arrived with a heavy contingent and chased the robbers.”

Waheed near Muhammadwala drain the robbers again shot at the police. The police shot back and killed two of them while the third accomplice managed to escape. Fahd, a passerby, was injured in the crossfire.

Waheed said one of the robbers was identified as Muhammad Arshad, resident of Yaseenabad.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Najam Ahmad Shah, City Police Officer (CPO) Abdur Razzaq Cheema, Operations SSP Ghulam Mubasshar Mekan visited the spot and announced cash prizes for the police personnel who took part in encounter.

Muhammad Naveed, an eyewitness, however, said, “I was passing near Muhammadwala drain where four police vans stopped near the drain. They dropped two persons out of the vehicles and killed them by shooting them.”

In another incident, three robbers took away mobile phones, cash and medicines from Madina Pharmacy at Susan Road.

Police said when the dacoits were fleeing, the security guard an raised alarm and the robbers fired at him. The guard shot back at them and killed one of them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2013.