Held suspect injured as four accomplices open fire on ICT Police team, flee

ISLAMABAD, Sep 16 (APP):An alleged snatcher, already in police custody in a robbery-cum-murder case, was injured when four of his accomplices opened indiscriminate fire on an Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police team in an attempt to free him within the limits of Sihala Police Station.

An official told APP on Wednesday that the police team was returning with the held accused, Asif alias Bablu, after recovering stolen property on his disclosure and identification when four of his accomplices, who were hiding along the route, opened fire on the police party.

The official said Asif was hit and injured in the firing by his own accomplices, while the police personnel remained safe due to bulletproof jackets and other protective measures.

The injured accused was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

Police said Asif had been arrested in connection with a robbery-cum-murder case registered at Sihala Police Station.

In the incident, a young man had fallen from a bridge and died while trying to escape a snatching attempt in the Sihala area.

The accused was also a previous record-holder in dozens of theft, robbery and street-crime cases and was wanted by both Islamabad and Rawalpindi police, the official said.

Police also recovered property allegedly snatched during different crimes from the accused.

Search operations were underway to trace and arrest the four accomplices allegedly involved in firing on the police team.