Three suspects arrested in connection with the killing of 28-year-old doctor Akash, who was shot dead during a robbery near Teen Talwar in Karachi’s Clifton area, were killed in an alleged police encounter in Gulshan-e-Maymar on Thursday, police said.

According to SSP Dr Samiullah Soomro of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the CIA, an SIU team had taken the three suspects to a locality to help arrest other members of the gang.

Police said the team came under fire from the suspects’ accomplices when it reached the spot.

During the ensuing exchange of gunfire, the three detained suspects were fatally shot, while one police officer sustained injuries.

The deceased suspects were identified as Suresh, Ram Chand and Anil. The police had claimed to have arrested them from Karachi’s DHA area on July 15.

Investigators had earlier identified the gang’s alleged leader as Aslam alias Baba, a resident of Quaidabad, along with several of his associates.

Police also said a woman was present in the gang’s vehicle during the robbery.

According to investigators, the gang divided the looted cash shortly after the crime.

One suspect allegedly transferred Rs125,000, his share of the proceeds, to his village through an Easypaisa account, while Ram Chand reportedly used Rs30,000 out of his Rs70,000 share to pay house rent.

During interrogation, Ram Chand allegedly confessed that he met Aslam Baba in Landhi Jail in 2021, where they formed the gang.

He told investigators the group carried out several major robberies outside banks within a month of its formation.

CCTV footage of the incident showed one of the suspects first confronting a security guard before opening fire directly at Dr Akash during a struggle over a bag containing cash.

Dr Akash, who was unmarried, had been serving as a doctor at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi for the past two years.

He belonged to a well-known business family. His father and cousin were also in the car at the time of the attack.