KARACHI, Oct 8: Four suspected bandits were gunned down in what police described as two separate encounters with them near Safoora Goth and off the Superhighway on Monday.

Three armed robbers were killed during shoot-out with the police shortly after they snatched Rs1.1 million from the cashier of a hospital and a pistol from his security guard near Safoora Goth, the police said.

The cashier of Memon Hospital was going to a bank along with the guard to deposit Rs1.1 million when they were waylaid by three bandits riding a motorbike in front of New Rizvia Society, said an official at the Sachal police station.

He added that the bandits overpowered the guard, relieved him of his pistol and the cashier of the money at gunpoint. As they were about to flee, a police van patrolling the area chased them and an exchange of fire ensued, the official said.

The official said that the three bandits were wounded in the firing. Before they could be shifted to a hospital, all the three died, he added.

The police seized three pistols, including the one snatched from the guard, and the booty found in their possession, the official said, adding that none of the suspected bandits could have been identified so far.

On the Superhighway, another suspected bandit was killed in an encounter, the police said.They added armed men were depriving a family travelling in a car after intercepting it near Malik Agha Hotel when a police party reached the scene and an exchange of gunfire ensued.

While one of the suspected bandits sustained a gunshot wound and died on the spot, his accomplice managed to flee on a motorbike, said DSP Qamar Ahmad.

A pistol found in the possession of the bandit was seized, the officer added.

The police later shifted the body to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Bank heist foiled

A police constable was shot and wounded by suspected robbers, but he foiled a bank heist in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on Monday.

Police said the incident took place in Block 13-D, within the remit of the Aziz Bhatti police station, where five suspects in a hi-roof van came to a branch of Habib Metropolitan Bank.

As two of the suspects tried to force their way into the bank, constable Jameel Khan, 30, resisted them. During an ensuing scuffle, the suspects opened fire on the policeman and fled taking his rifle with them.

The policeman suffered two wounds, but held his ground at the entrance to the branch and informed his superiors about the incident.

DIG-East Shahid Hayat said the three suspects in the van got so scared that they did not come out of the vehicle. He said that seeing the situation, the private security guard at the gate ran inside instead of helping the policeman.

The policeman would be rewarded for his valour, the DIG declared.

The wounded policeman was shifted to a private hospital.

On Friday, another bank heist was botched in North Nazimabad when two policemen on duty forced the suspects to flee.