RAWALPINDI: Four armed men attacked a Lahore-bound coaster near Kahuta killing a passenger and injuring the driver on Thursday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Hafiz Kamran Asghar said blood samples of an injured robber and other evidence had been collected from the crime scene, adding the police will soon trace and arrest the culprits who seemed to be local people.

The SSP identified the deceased as Mohammad Farooq, a private employee in Lahore, and the injured driver as Akhtar Khan.

He said the robbers fired gunshots to rescue their accomplice who had been overpowered by one of the passengers. Unfortunately, the passenger lost his life in the incident, he said.

Shahid Mehmood, a resident of Azad Kashmir, lodged an FIR with the Kahuta police, stating that he worked as helper with the passenger coaster.

He said the coaster had left AJK for Lahore at 4pm on Wednesday. As it was ascending the Kallar Road near Kahuta, the driver found the road blocked with heavy stones.

He said as the driver slowed down, four young men carrying weapons surrounded the bus and one of them entered the vehicle and threatened the passengers to give up cash and valuables. He said the robber snatched his mobile phone and Rs60,000 from the driver.

As the gunman moved towards the passengers and started snatching their phones and cash, one of the passengers identified as Mohammad Farooq attempted to overpower him, which led to a scuffle between them.

Observing that their accomplice was in trouble, the robbers waiting outside the coaster opened fire which resulted in injuries to driver Akhtar Khan and Mohammad Farooq. Despite being injured, the driver sped off the bus; however the gunman who had boarded the vehicle jumped out and escaped.

He said after covering some distance, the driver could not continue driving and he (helper) took control of the vehicle and drove it to a nearby hospital.

However, Farooq, who was shot and injured, died in the bus whereas the driver was shifted to Rawalpindi by Rescue 1122.

After the incident was reported to the police, SSP operations Hafiz Kamran Asghar and other officials reached the crime scene and recorded the statements of the victims.

A police team led by DSP Kahuta has been formed to arrest the culprits.

Later, SP CIA Binish Fatima also visited the crime scene along with other officials.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024