Police foil house robbery, recover valuables

Two robbers were killed and a policeman injured during an exchange of fire

KARACHI: The police claim to have foiled a house robbery while killing the two thieves on the spot when they along with their comrades were trying to flee on Wednesday atfernoon.

The encounter took place near alFalah Market in PECHS Block 2 within the limits of Ferozabad police station. A group of at least four armed men entered the house of Waseem, who used to run a garment shop on Tariq Road, and held him and his family hostage at gunpoint.

A neighbour informed the police about the presence of the robbers at their home. The police reached the site while the robbers were trying to flee after looting cash, mobile phones, jewellery and other valuables. The culprits resorted to indiscriminate fire and tried to escape when they were alerted to the police's presence. In retaliation, the police fired and killed two of the robbers on the spot, while two of their companions managed to escape under the cover of fire.

A police constable, Wali Muhammad, was wounded during the exchange. The police recovered weapons, a Suzuki Cultus bearing a fake licence plate, the looted valuables and cash.

The bodies of the robbers were shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth after medico-legal formalities were completed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Police officials said that they were trying to get the details of the recovered car as they believed it may have been stolen.

Following the encounter, the newly appointed Karachi AIG Mushtaq Maher congratulated the police team that participated in the encounter and announced Rs100,000 as reward money for them. A case has been registered.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.