LAHORE, Aug 11: Two alleged smugglers were killed in a crossfire with the Rangers while as many others were taken into custody near Chungi Shaheed check-post along the Wagah Border early on Saturday.

Two of their accomplices, however, managed to escape while the officials seized 150 bottles of liquor and cigarette packs from the spot. All smugglers were Pakistani.

Batapur Station House Officer Khalid Mahmood told Dawn the police rushed to the spot on an emergency call about a firing incident around 2:30am. He said preliminary investigation suggested that six smugglers were entering Pakistan from the Indian side near Aichugill village when on-duty Rangers personnel challenged them.

Quoting the Rangers, the SHO said the suspects opened fire and attempted to flee. But the Rangers personnel returned the fire, killing two of the suspects besides arresting two others.

The remaining two managed to flee from the spot.

The SHO said the dead were identified as Aqeel Shah of Ravi Ryan, Muridke, and Muhammad Kamran of Pattoki Awan, Batapur. They were in their 20s.

He said the suspects taken into custody were identified as Ayub Ali and Tanvir while the runaway suspects were Ghaffar Ahmad and Ashraf, both of the border area.

He claimed it appeared that the suspects were returning from India with liquor at the time of the incident. The police also found cigarettes of Pakistani brand on the spot.

The SHO said Ghaffar and Ashraf, who fled the scene, were ringleaders and had already served imprisonment.

He said a case had been registered under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, Customs Act, Control Act and the CNSA against six people.

He said the arrested accused were still in Rangers’ custody.

ACCIDENT: Four people, including a child, were killed in separate road accidents, while a middle-aged man lost his both legs in a train accident on Saturday.

Ravi Road police said Waseem Roshan, 30, and his helper, Nausher Ali Anayat, 28, were killed when a trailer overturned near Batti Chowk.

The trailer was loaded with iron bars and T-iron.

Police handed over the bodies to the families after legal formalities.

Badami Bgah police said three-year-old Khadeeja was critically injured after being hit by a speeding vehicle near Lohaywali Pulli and died in hospital.

Abu Sardar told the police his daughter was playing outside the house at the time of the incident.

North Cantonment police said Abdul Hafeez, 55, who was injured in a road accident near Sadar Roundabout two days ago, died in a hospital.

Rescue 1122 said a 50-year-old man lost his legs after he was hit by a moving train near Badami Bagh sabzi mandi railway crossing.

Ejaz Maher was taken to Mayo Hospital where his condition was stated to be critical.

INJURED: Two robbers shot at and injured a motorcyclist near the Punjab University canal underpass on Saturday.

Police said the suspects stopped Atif of Kasurpura and snatched cash and a cell phone from him at gunpoint. When Atif resisted handing over his bike, the suspects shot at and injured him.

COLLAPSE: A woman in her 30s was critically injured in a roof collapse in 5-Block of Green Town on Saturday morning.

Fatima, wife of Haji Muhammad, was taken to Mayo Hospital.

ELECTROCUTED: Niaz was electrocuted at a shop in the Ravi Road area on Saturday.

The police said Niaz was doing some electric work at the time of the incident.

FIRE: Valuables worth hundreds of thousands were reduced to ashes in two fire incidents in the city on Saturday.A fire broke out in the house of Mian Waseem near Mini Market, Gulberg-II, burning down valuables worth Rs250,000.

In another incident, the colour lab of Asif Iqbal caught fire on Ghazi Road, leaving valuables and machinery burnt.

The cause of fire was said to be a short circuit.

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