Rawalpindi - A robbery suspect was killed and a police constable was seriously wounded during an armed encounter with two fleeing alleged criminals in the limits of New Town police late on Wednesday night.
Patrol and Suspicious Activity
The law enforcers stated that a police party was on patrol and conducting general checking in Dhoke Nujoo near Nullah Leh at around 1:45am. They spotted two persons riding a bike coming from the direction of Dhoke Nujoo. As soon as they saw the police party engaged in checking, the motorcycle driver suddenly reversed the bike, attempting to flee.
Police Chase and Firing
Finding their action suspicious, the police chased them. “The person sitting behind, in order to deter the police, started firing directly at us. As a result of the firing, two shots hit the front of the official vehicle, while one shot hit constable Khurshid Ayaz on the chest. The constable remained safe due to the bullet-proof jacket, but another shot hit him on the right shoulder, injuring him,” the FIR noted.
The police stated that they retaliated with aerial firing in self defense. The fleeing criminals lost control and fell from the bike. They got up and started running away from the police while one of them blindly fired at the law enforcers. One of his shots hit his accomplice running behind him. As he was trying to lift his wounded accomplice, police overpowered them both, the complaining police officer said in the FIR.
Suspect Dies, Accomplice Arrested
The wounded suspect received a bullet wound on the left side of his chest. He later succumbed to his wound and died while being taken to the hospital. The arrested robber on inquiry stated his name as Noshab, son of Shahzad Masih and resident of Khanda Dak, Islamabad. The deceased was identified as Nigel alias Sharon Shahzad, brother of the arrested robber.
The police recovered illicit weapons and the stolen bike from the robbers. New Town police registered cases under charges of murder, attempt to murder, police encounter, damaging public property, retaining stolen property, obstructing public servants from performing duties, and keeping illicit arms.
Prior Criminal Record
A police spokesperson said that the deceased robber had a prior criminal record involving robbery-with-murder and several other cases. He had also been sentenced by a court of law in a robbery-with-murder case. Two weeks ago, the deceased robber had killed another citizen during a robbery.
