FAISALABAD: Three security guards of a sugar mills were gunned down and two others injured by robbers who looted a cash van on Jhumra Road, in the remit of Jaranwala city police on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122 sources and locals, four guards -- Yaseen (50), Ayub (48), Sardar and Younas -- were returning to Hussain Sugar Mills after collecting cash from a bank in a van driven by Rana Shaukat (45).

They said four robbers on two motorcycles intercepted the van near Sugar Mills Mor and tried to take away the cash.

They said when the guards put up resistance, the robbers opened indiscriminate fire, killing Yaseen, Ayub and Sardar on the spot and injuring Younas and the driver, Shaukat.

Locals said on hearing the gunshots, people and shopkeepers ran for cover.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Faisal Zia quoting locals said after resorting to firing the robbers took away a bag from the van that contained cash.

He said the injured were shifted to Jaranwala tehsil headquarters hospital by the locals in the cash van, as they did not wait for the Rescue 1122 ambulance.

The condition of the injured was said to be stable.

Jaranwala superintendent of police did not respond to the phone call of this correspondent for his comment. The police were investigating.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2018