KARACHI: Five suspected robbers, who were holed up in a North Karachi house, were shot dead by police after hour-long gun battle on Wednesday.

Central SSP Maroof Usman said that seven robbers barged into a house in North Karachi’s Sector-11-B by cutting its iron grills in the small hours of Wednesday, held the family at gunpoint and snatched cash, gold ornaments and other valuables from them.

Police said that some neighbours called police helpline Madadgar 15, which sent three mobile vans to the scene and cordoned off the area. Sensing danger, the robbers opened fire and police retaliated.

The shootout continued for some hours and when the guns fell silent police found three suspected robbers dead inside the house. Two others were shot dead in the street while attempting to flee.

The SSP told the media that two other robbers managed to escape in a car. He said all those killed were Afghans.

DIG-West Fida Husain Mastoi told reporters that the suspects were part of the notorious White Corolla Gang.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that five bodies were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. They were identified as Painda Khan, Imran Saleem, Abdullah, Abdul Bari and Haider Khan.

Three 9mm pistols, one .30-bore pistol, snatched jewellery and Rs126,000 were recovered from their custody.

Narrating their ordeal, one member of the victim family told the media that they were asleep when the robbers entered their home.

He said that the robbers beat his brother and tied his hands. They first took valuables from shelves on the ground floor and later reached first floor, searched everything and collected jewellery, laptops, mobile phones, etc, he added.

A police spokesperson said that criminal records of all the killed suspects had been obtained. They were habitual offenders, who had been arrested and sent to prison in the past.

Meanwhile, Karachi police chief Javed Odho announced Rs500,000 cash reward for Sir Syed SHO Shahid Taj and his team.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2023