BAHAWALPUR, May 4: The Ahmadpur East and Uch Sharif police could have failed to arrest three alleged bank robbers.

Four gunmen took away Rs700,000 in cash from the National Bank of Pakistan’s Mauza Kotla Musa Khan branch, about 90 kilometres from here near Uch Sharif on Friday. They escaped by a car bearing registration number IDL-939 but were intercepted by the Ahmadpur East police. The robbers and police exchanged the fire which left Constable Anwar injured, while one of the robbers, Rafiq of Rahim Yar Khan, was arrested. His three accomplices made good their escape along with the money.

ENCROACHMENTS: The district administration has fixed May 9 deadline to remove encroachments from all the seven bazaars of the city.

A district government meeting on Saturday took serious note of encroachments which were creating inconvenience for the people, particularly women buyers. The meeting warned the shopkeepers to remove their illegal structures voluntarily otherwise a massive operation would be launched.

AIRPORT UPGRADATION: The Civil Aviation Authority is actively considering to upgrade Bahawalpur airport to make it serviceable for the landing of Boeing aeroplanes.

A CAA team led by its director visited the airport the other day and discussed the matter with present and former BCCI officials.