KARACHI: A policeman and three suspected robbers were shot dead in three “encounters” in the metropolis on Tuesday, officials said.

The first shootout between armed robbers and law enforcers took place within the remit of the Orangi Town police station.

Area SHO Arshad Ali Khan said that three robbers were looting passers-by in Orangi No 1 near Bilal Masjid. When a police patrol arrived at the scene, the criminals resorted to firing and attempted to flee.

In an ensuing exchange of gunfire, two suspects were wounded, while their third accomplice managed to escape.

The SHO said area people also joined the police and got hold of the two wounded suspects and subjected them to beating. The police saved the muggers and shifted them to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead. The deceased was identified as Arshad Akhtar, 20.

The police claimed to have recovered one pistol and one motorcycle from their custody.

In another incident in Memon Goth, the police said that two robbers were looting a citizen on the link road near Cadet College in the early hours of Tuesday morning when a police team reached there.

He said that the two suspects opened fire on the police and in an ensuing exchange of gunfire they were arrested in wounded condition.

They were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

In the evening, a policeman was shot dead and another wounded off Superhighway.

According to SSP-East Dr Farrukh Raza, policemen were on routine patrolling when they received information about the presence of robbers near Mohammed Goth.

They rushed to the spot and challenged the robbers who opened fire. In an exchange of gunfire two policemen — Adil Pitafi and Chaman Abbas — suffered bullets wounds. They were shifted to a hospital where Abbas died.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024