KOHAT: Three robbers of a notorious gang were killed in an exchange of fire with police after they shot at and injured a constable, an army soldier and a civilian in an attempt to loot them on Thursday midnight, the police said.

The robbers had let loose a reign of terror during last three weeks and were involved in several bloody robberies, district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur told a news conference on Friday.

He said the robbers had fired at a motorcycle, injuring a police constable, namely Haroon Rashid, an army man, Shah Faisal, and a civilian, Saleem Khan on Thursday night. The injured were going home after attending a musical show.

Mr Gandapur said following the firing incident, the DSPs of the city and Saddar along with a contingent reached the spot, adding the robbers opened fire on the police. However, in retaliation, the robbers, namely Niaz Ali and Shehzad, were killed, while their third accomplice fled.

He said the police started a search operation around the Masood Bagh and intercepted the fleeing robber, Sajjad, who opened fire at the police party. However, the police killed him in retaliatory fire. DPO Gandapur said the robbers were involved in robberies on highways and had killed a number of people after looting them in recent days.

Meanwhile, a child protection court judge, Farhana Tabussam, on Friday awarded 28 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs250,000 to a woman in the murder case of five-year-old girl, Hareem Fatima.

The woman, Rabia Jabeen had strangulated the girl after kidnapping her from outside her house in Khattak Colony in March 2021.

Her father, Farhad Khan, had filed an FIR against the woman. Later, the police had arrested him.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022