LAHORE: A rickshaw driver was allegedly shot dead while two robbers injured during a crossfire between the police and the criminals in Sabzazar on Saturday.

The police claimed the rickshaw driver died in the firing by the robbers while police arrested the injured robbers.

Sharing details, Saddar Division SP Umar Farooq said the police signalled two suspected motorcyclists at a picket in the Hanjarwal area. The suspects, however, opened fire and fled the scene. The police started a chase and after a hot pursuit, the robbers again fired at the policemen in Awan Town.

The police returned the fire and during the shootout, a robber’s fire hit the rickshaw driver, Abdul Maalik, who was carrying some passengers.

During the crossfire, the two robbers also suffered bullet injuries, SP Farooq said and added that one of the suspects entered a house to take shelter from where the police arrested him.

He was later identified as Mohammad Qasim, a resident of Sabzazar area. The police shifted him to the Jinnah Hospital for treatment in custody.

The police also arrested his accomplice who was identified as Javed. The SP said Javed had suffered bullet injuries and he got him admitted to a local hospital under the name of Aslam to avoid arrest. The police, however, managed to trace and arrest him from the hospital.

The body of the rickshaw driver Abdul Maalik has been shifted to the morgue for autopsy.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2018