Two robbers killed, one injured in police encounter

The Rangers have arrested two suspects during a raid

KARACHI: At least two street robbers were killed while their accomplice was arrested in an injured condition during an shoot out with the police in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Wednesday afternoon.

The encounter took place near Moti Mahal on main Rashid Minhas Road, within the limits of the  Gulshan-e-Iqbal police station. District East SSP Javed Jiskani said that the motorcycle patrolling team of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police were informed that the robbers were looting valuables from citizens.

On receiving the information, the police team arrived at the location and shot at the looters, critically injuring the trio, two of whom died on the spot, while their third accomplice was admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre with critical injuries.

The police also claimed to have recovered three pistols, a motorcycle and the stolen items from their possession.

One of the deceased suspects was identified as Talha Yousuf, while the injured was identified as Faraz. The police officials said that the third suspect has yet to be identified. SSP Jiskani said the police have also obtained Yousuf's criminal record and have discovered that he was involved in various cases of robberies in parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, including Aziz Bhatti, Mobina Town and Gulistan-e-Jauhar, as more than 10 cases of robberies at shops, houses and shootings during robberies have so far been found against him. Yousuf was previously employed by a private news channel but was fired in 2009. SSP Jiskani added that the citizens identified the trio in at least eight cases of crimes. A case has been registered while further investigation was underway.

Separately, the Rangers claimed to have arrested two suspects during a targeted raid conducted in Azeempura and have also recovered weapons from their possession. The suspects were shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2015.