FAISALABAD, Dec 7: A headconstable was shot dead while an ASI and a constable suffered critical bullet wounds when three robbers opened fire on them on the Shahkot-Jhumra Road, some 33 kilometres from here, on Friday night.

A police party headed by ASI Naseer Ahmad was patrolling in a private car when the robbers taking them for civilians intercepted them. But, when they saw the policemen, they fired at them, killing headconstable Abdul Raoof instantly and injuring seriously ASI Naseer Ahmad and constable Khushi Muhammad. They were rushed to a Khurianwala hospital where Khushi was stated to be in serious condition.

On receiving the information, the district police chief sent three police parties to look for the robbers. On a telephonic talk, he claimed that the outlaws would be arrested within 24 hours.

CRIMINALS HELD: Police claim having busted 21 gangs of criminals and recovered stolen property from their possession.

This was claimed by the Faisalabad SSP here on Friday.

The police chief claimed that the arrested criminals were wanted in a number of cases. Looted goods, including gold ornaments, eight cars, 27 motorcycles, a wagon, a tractor and computers, were recovered from their possession.

FIREWORKS BLAST: One person was killed and another sustained serious injuries in a fireworks blast at a local powerloom factory’s store in Samanabad here on Friday night.

Sultan Ghouri, owner of the factory at Rashid Chowk, had given his factory on contract to Ashiq Hussain.

Eyewitnesses said the factory store had a huge quantity of fireworks which blew up suddenly. They said the workers had gone for taraveeh prayers at the time of the incident which saved many human lives. Only Muhammad Rashid and Abdul Rehman were present inside at the time of the explosion. The former died instantly while the latter received serious injuries. The injured was shifted to the local DHQ Hospital in critical condition.

Police have registered a case and are going into the matter.

PROTEST RALLY: A protest rally was held here on Friday by leaders of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council against Israeli attacks on Palestine.

The participants in the rally marched on various city roads and held a protest meeting at the Clock Tower intersection.

Speakers, including Jamaat-i-Islami district amir Sardar Zafar Husain and city amir Mehboobuz Zaman, demanded the rulers to change their Afghan policy.

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