September 12, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 11, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Sept 11: A shoot-out between the gang of robbers and the residents of Siayal Westridge on Thursday left one of the suspects dead and another injured.

Police said the robber was killed by the firing of his own gang members while his accomplice was shot and injured in retaliation by robbery victims. However, two other accomplices of the suspected robber escaped.

The police took the injured robber and his wife, who came to the hospital to see her husband, into custody. The police said the wife was also member of the gang.

The shoot-out created panic among the residents of the area who came out of their houses and criticized the police for failing to check the robbers.

The incident took place when a four-member gang of the robbers held a passer-by wagon driver Imran Ahmed at gunpoint, tied his arms and legs and injured him. The robbers snatched a cellphone and cash from him.

Later, they forced him to lead them to his uncle’s house. On reaching at his uncle Asif’s house, the robbers forced him to give up cash and other valuables.

On seeing the robbers inside his house, Asif picked up his gun while the women inmates started shouting which caught attention of the people of the surrounding areas who rushed to his rescue, resulting into the shoot-out between the robbers and the people.

Shakoor Khan, one of the robbers was killed during the firing while his accomplice Mohammad Anwar was injured and subsequently overpowered by the people.

ROBBERIES: Three robberies were committed while four vehicles were taken away by thieves from different parts of the city on Wednesday, police said.

M. Anwar complained to the New Town police that he was on his way home when two robbers intercepted him and snatched away his motorcycle and Rs25,000.

Yasir Sohail complained to the Banni police that he was drawing cash from ATM when a robber forcibly entered inside the cabin and snatched away Rs35,000 and his cellphone from him.

Mohammad Iqbal lodged a similar complaint with the Taxila police saying that he was on his way home after offering Isha prayers when two gunmen forced him to stop his motorcycle. He said the gunmen snatched his motorcycle, Rs1500 and a cellphone and escaped.

Mohammad Hanif said that two persons booked his pick-up van from Faizabad to Murree, but they snatched away the vehicle on reaching the destination.

Faisal Mumtaz’s car was stolen from Saddar, Faisal Ashraf’s car was lifted from Westridge, Ijaz Sharif’s car was taken away from Satellite Town while Khan Nawaz’s car was picked up from Sadiqabad.