LAHORE, Aug 3: An alleged robber and a passerby were killed in what police claimed two ‘encounters’ in different parts of the city on Sunday.

In the first shootout, one motorcycle snatcher, unidentified so far, about 25, was killed while his accomplice managed to escape in the Factory Area.

Model Town division police SP Capt Mubin Ahmad (retired) alleged the duo had snatched two motorcycles from the same locality in the last four days. On Sunday, he said the same gangsters snatched a motorcycle from Imran Ahmad at Akram Park in the Factory Area. A police patrol chased them and tried to round them up at Haji Park but they opened fire on the policemen. It was retaliated and one gangster was killed. The other managed his escape.

About the second incident, city police chief Khwaja Khalid Farooq told a press conference that three gunmen held up Qasim and Shakeel on Nisbat Road and got on to their car. They took them close to the Qadhafi Stadium, forced them to get off the car and sped away. A message was radioed and the car was first spotted at Mohlanwal and then at Sundar police kiosk. A chase was carried out. In the meanwhile, the speeding car knocked down a motorcyclist, Nawaz Ahmad, who died before first aid. The police continued the chase and managed to arrest one carjacker Tariq, alias Tara after a brief shootout. His accomplice Mujahid, who was injured, was arrested while the third gangster managed to escape.

The police chief claimed that Tara was a proclaimed offender and was wanted in several cases, including the murder of four policemen.