ISLAMABAD: One person was injured and a policeman narrowly avoided serious injury during two shoot-outs between police and suspects that took place in the capital during the last 48 hours.

According to the police, one of the encounters occurred in I-15.

The Criminal Intelligence Agency received information about a gang of robbers active in Jhangi Syedan and its surrounding areas, they said.

Vigilance was mounted there and a police team deployed to arrest the gang. The team spotted three people on a motorcycle enter Service Road Motorway. On suspicion, the three were signalled to stop, but they abandoned the motorcycle and ran away. While attempting to escape, they also opened fire at the police.

Since Jan 7, four encounters have taken place, official says

In response, police fired in the air with an SMG, the officials said, adding that two bullets fired by the suspects hit the helmet and bulletproof jacket of Constable Bilal but fortunately he remained safe.

Later, during search of the area, police found one of the suspects injured but his accomplices were able to escape.

In another incident, police launched a search of the culprits after receiving information from the Safe City Authority about a robbery. During their search, the police spotted the robbers in a field in Tarnol.

On seeing the police, the suspects opened fire on them. The police retaliated and were able to capture two suspects. However, their accomplice managed to escape.

Since Jan 7, four encounters have taken place in the capital between robbers and police in different localities, a police spokesman said.

In all these encounters, four of the suspects were injured from bullets fired by their accomplices. A gang of three robbers had intercepted Khurram Shahzad at Ittefaq Colony and held him at gunpoint. They then snatched cash amounting to Rs2,500 and other valuables before escaping.

Fortunately, two policemen narrowly escaped being injured as they had safety equipment, including bulletproof jackets, the spokesman said, adding that six suspects were arrested during the four encounters.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2022