LAHORE, Jan 15: An alleged robber was killed in a police ‘encounter’ in Mehmood Booti locality of Baghbanpura early on Tuesday.

Police claimed the crossfire took place after a police team tried to stop two motorcyclists for checking near Daroghewala at 2:45am, but they fled.

Police chased the motorcyclists and engaged them in a crossfire, which continued for a few minutes and one of the suspects was killed. The other suspect managed to flee. Police seized a weapon and shifted his body to a hospital for autopsy.

Police identified the deceased as 25-year-old Qasim Butt of Shadbagh.

Baghbanpura circle DSP Muhammad Anwer said Butt was identified by the family of Muhammad Asif who was shot dead by two robbers during a robbery at a confectionary on Bhaini Road on Jan 10. He said Butt was involved in at least six cases of murder and robbery. One of his brothers was in jail and another was a proclaimed offender.

ROBBERY: Robbers took away cash and valuables worth Rs500,000 in three hits in the city on Tuesday.

Two robbers entered the house of Ismail in Salman Park in Nishtar Colony police limits and escaped after looting cash and jewellery worth Rs275,000.

Two robbers came to the shop of Inam near Raja Centre in Ghalib Market police limits and looted cash and cloth worth Rs100,000.

Two robbers entered the shop of Haji Sarfaraz in Dubai Park in Baghbanpura police limits and took away Rs110,000 and a cell phone.

SUFFOCATION: Two young labourers were suffocated to death after a fire broke out at their workplace in S-Block of Model Town early on Tuesday.

Liaquatabad police inquiries showed that the victims identified as Imran and Waseem, both residents of Shorkot, were asleep in the upper portion of an electronics warehouse when a portion of the property caught fire and smoke filled the room.

The rescue services were alerted by the watchman and locals. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after hectic efforts and recovered the bodies of the victims.

The cause of fire was thought to be short-circuiting.

Police handed over the bodies to the families after formalities. — Staff Reporter