Deadly encounter: Three ‘robbers’ shot dead in Yazman

Police had taken the three to recover looted valuables.

BAHAWALPUR: Three people police said were robbers were shot dead in Yazman on Wednesday. Police said they died after being hit by bullets fired by people trying to free them.

On September 17, police had arrested Faiz, Shabbir and Jaffar on suspicion of being members of an inter-district robbers’ gang.

During the interrogation, the three confessed to several robberies. They also told police that they had hidden cash and valuables snatched during robberies at a hideout in Jand Awan village.

On Wednesday, a police contingent took the three to the location. Police claimed that five gunmen riding three motorcycles fired shots at their vehicle near Chak 69-DB. One of the bullets hit a tyre of the vehicle. The gunmen then surrounded the vehicle and freed the three men and fled with them on the bikes.

The police party called for backup. Another police contingent, headed by Yazman Saddar SHO Rana Qamar, chased the suspects and spotted them near Chak 68-DB.

The robbers fired at the police party, who retaliated. They then fled towards Zakheera. The policemen later found the bodies of Faiz, Shabbir and Jaffar from the spot. Police claimed that the deceased were hit by the bullets fired by their gang.

Police said they had seized guns and a motorbike from the spot.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2014.