GUJRAT, July 1: Police arrested four persons who were apparently trying to rob a bank, after an encounter near the Paran village in Serai Alamgir on Monday night.

According to a press release, the Serai Alamgir police were tipped off about some suspicious-looking occupants of a car that was parked near the NBP’s Paran branch.

As the police contingent reached the place, the car sped away. The police party chased the car besides airing a message for reinforcements. The suspects abandoned the car (GAH-3605) near Paran and took refuge in the fields nearby from where they opened fire on police. The police returned fire.

After a shootout that lasted an hour, four of the six outlaws surrendered while two accomplices managed to escape. Those arrested were identified as Asim Aziz, Mushtaq, Shahbaz Khan and Ghazan Hussain. The police recovered a Kalashnikov and three pistols from their possession.

Their absconding accomplices were later on identified as Shahzad and Rashid of Khawaspur, Lalamusa. The police recovered a gas cylinder, a gas cutter, 12 other cutters, a screw wrench, four wigs and four handbags from their car. According to preliminary investigation, they intended to rob the NBP.

Gujranwala DIG Malik Mohammad Iqbal has announced cash prizes for the policemen who took part in the encounter.

SHOT DEAD: Two friends including an expatriate were shot dead by some unidentified people near the fruit market on GT Road on Tuesday.

Ali Hussain Shah and Nadeem Qaiser Butt had parked their car near the fruit market. Another car appeared on the scene and its unidentified occupants opened fire on them. They sustained multiple bullet injuries and died on the spot.

Police sent the bodies to the mortuary for autopsy. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

SUICIDE: A youth committed suicide over a domestic dispute at Mohallah Qali Garan in Lalamusa.

Police said Qadar Dad (18), who had shot himself, was taken to the DHQ Hospital, where he died.

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