KARACHI: Two suspected robbers were shot dead in an alleged encounter on the M-9 motorway, formerly known as Superhighway, officials said on Tuesday.

The SITE-Superhighway Industrial Area police said that two robbers were looting motorcyclists at a desolate point near Chakar Hotel on the Superhighway when a Shaheen Force patrol arrived at the scene and challenged them.

SSP-East Dr Farrukh Raza said that the policemen asked them to surrender but they opened fire and in an ensuing exchange of gunfire one suspect was killed on the spot and another arrested in wounded condition.

He said that he also died soon after he was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

The police claimed to have recovered two pistols, snatched mobile phones and one motorcycle from their custody.

Area SHO Noor Mohammed Shaikh said that the killed suspects were identified as Naik Mohammed, 25, and Husain Gul, 18. They were residents of Madina Colony.

He said that many robbery victims, who were deprived of their cell phones which had been recovered from the custody of the killed suspects, also approached the police and identified them.

However, the SHO maintained that the suspects had no past criminal record.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024