ISLAMABAD: Two suspected robbers were gunned down in an encounter with police near Rawat early on Saturday in which three officials of the capital police were also injured.

A press release issued by the capital police said the suspects were associated with the notorious Bilal Sabit gang and had been involved in murder, house robberies, and snatching incidents in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The gang leader, Bilal Sabit, was also involved in the murder of former South Waziristan deputy commissioner Nauman Afzal Afridi at the Fatehjang toll plaza in September, it added.

The law enforcement agencies were searching for him and other members of the gang, said the press release.

A police spokesman earlier claimed that some robbers snatched a vehicle from a man in F-8. When the police tried to arrest them, they started firing on them.

Three policemen injured; suspects were involved in house robberies, snatching incidents, say police

The police also retaliated and during the cross-firing a policeman sustained a bullet injury, and the robbers managed to escape.

The police chased the suspects to a house in Bahria Town Phase 8, the spokesman added.

The Rawalpindi police were informed and they too reached the spot. Houses in the neighbourhood were got vacated as a precautionary measure.

When the police cordoned off the house, the gunmen again started firing on them forcing the police to retaliate.

The exchange of fire between the suspects and the police started at around 2am and concluded at around 7am after the killing of the two robbers, the spokesman said.

The injured policemen were identified as head constables Pervaiz Khan, Bahadur Ali and constable Inam Rasool.

Two of them sustained bullet injuries to their legs and the condition of one of the injured was serious.

The inspector general of police, deputy inspector general (operations) and the senior superintendent of police (operations) were not available for their comments.

Minister visits injured policemen

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed visited the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Rawalpindi to inquire after the police officials injured in the encounter, APP adds.

Lauding the services of the police of the twin cities for maintaining law and order, he paid tributes to the officials and said their sacrifices would not go waste.

The minister said the security personnel professionally dealt with the situation.

Mr Ahmed said awards would be given to the courageous policemen.

He said a new security plan would be devised for Islamabad after the OIC meeting, adding 16 more security vehicles equipped with latest technology would be arranged for the capital police in addition to the seven already provided to it.

He said 125 mobile squads were patrolling the capital to control crime.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2021