KARACHI, Nov 1: Five suspected bandits were killed and an equal number of their accomplices were wounded in what police described as two separate encounters in different parts of the city on Thursday night.

Three suspected bandits were killed in a shoot-out with police in Shireen Jinnah Colony within the remit of the Boat Basin police station, while the other two were chased and gunned down by people who witnessed them depriving a family of their valuables in North Nazimabad, according to the police.

SSP Clifton Javed Maher said that the official in charge of the Shireen Jinnah Colony police post tried to intercept six armed men riding two motorbikes after two snatchings were reported in Clifton Block 1. But the fleeing bandits opened fire on the police and an exchange of fire ensued. All the six armed men were wounded in the firing and were rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where three of them died, said SSP Maher.

“We have seized seven cell phones, three purses, two laptops and three pistols found in their possession,” the SSP said.

Earlier, two suspected bandits were gunned down in North Nazimabad.

Acting DIG West Amir Farooqui said that people travelling in a car along with a police van chased four armed men riding two motorbikes after they were found depriving a family of their valuables near Remedial Hospital.

During the brief chase, the armed men opened fire on the police van and the car. The fire was returned and two of them were killed while the other two sustained gunshot wounds.