LAHORE - Three alleged bandits were killed in two police ‘encounters’ which took place in different parts of the provincial metropolis late Thursday night.
According to police, an alleged bandit was killed during a house-robbery attempt in the Hayer police area while two criminals were gunned down near Bund Road.
Police sources said on Friday that two hardened criminals were shot dead in a staged encounter in the Ravi Road police vicinity. The bandits, identified as Sikandar and Nadeem, were in the custody of CIA police for the last several days, sources said.
After Thursday midnight, a CIA police team took the bandits to the Park Colony in the Ravi Road police limits, where they were shot dead one-by-one.
However, police claimed that the bandits were killed in genuine encounter.
A CIA official said that the bandits riding on a motorcycle were fleeing after committing an armed robbery when the police started chasing them. As the policemen rounded up the bandits, they opened fire on the police vehicles, triggering shootout in the residential area. When the fire was stopped both the robbers were found shot dead with multiple bullet wounds. The bodies were removed to the morgue for autopsy.
In another incident, a robber was killed while his two accomplices managed to escape during the crossfire in the Hayer police limits late Thursday.
A Lahore police spokesman said that three robbers stormed into the Sofia farmhouse of Tahsin when his neighbours alerted the police by making an emergency call at the Rescue-15.
As the police reached the crime scene, the bandits opened fire on the cops. The police also retailed.
As a result, one of the bandits died on the spot while his two accomplices managed to escape.
Police say they believe the fleeing bandits also sustained bullet wounds during the crossfire. Police are conducting raids to arrest them.
The police removed the body of the bandit, yet to be identified, to the morgue for autopsy. Further investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, one liquor smuggler was killed while other was arrested at the hand of Punjab Rangers on Friday at Wahga border area, Rangers Jawans also recovered 47 bottles of Indian liquor from their possession, said spokesman of Rangers.
He said that Rangers foiled the smuggling bid and apprehended 1 liquor smuggler and killed another in wagha border area.
The alleged smugglers were challenged after Rangres Jawans suspected their movement but the accused opened fire on Rangers Jawans. During exchange of fire Altaf Hussain was killed while his brother Mohammad Azam was arrested. Accused are resident of Baloki, chak no 30 thsil Pattoki Dist Kasur.
Director General Pakistan Rangers Punjab Major General Khan Tahir Javed Khan appreciated professionalism and dedication of Rangers jawans.