Durban - Somewhere there’s a man bleeding and the police need your help to find him.
He’s no ordinary individual. He is a heavily armed robber who opened fire on police. They shot dead seven of his comrades. Two are in hospital under heavy police guard. But three others escaped, including the individual police officers believe was wounded in the shoot-out. They are asking hospitals and clinics to come forward with information that could help them in finding the suspects.
The men are believed to be linked to several armed robberies in the country, including one in Newcastle on Friday. There is also speculation that the armed men could be responsible for the wounding of Flying Squad officer Ashok Ramsakkan in KwaMashu last Sunday as well as in incident in Gingindlovu which left one policeman dead an another injured.
Forensic tests on the abandoned car where traces of blood were found are being used to get a clear indication of who the remaining suspect may be.
Police have been expressive about taking a zero tolerance approach after many of their officers were killed in the past week.
As of Saturday last week two policemen were killed in separate incidents while two others are fighting for their lives.
The death count of suspects has also risen as eight suspects, including the ones in the Greytown shoot-out, have been killed.
One suspect was killed after a business robbery in KwaMashu on Monday. Another one was shot in Empangeni last Saturday by Warrant officer Niren Ramsaroop, just minutes before he died.
Police commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni said on Saturday police would not hesitate to defend themselves when attacked in the line of duty.
“Every day our police officers face the possibility of being killed when they put on their uniform and go out to serve their community. Such attacks on police officers will not deter us from carrying out our mandate,” she said.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said they were working round the clock to find the remaining suspects.
The men opened fire at police at Seven Oaks, Greytown, this weekend after police tracked them down after receiving information about the suspects’ involvement in a robbery in Newcastle on Friday.
According to a Hawks member, police took a few days to do surveillance on the gang.
“We did not sleep for a couple of days because these men were committing serious offences and moved from one place to another.
“On the day of the shooting, the suspects opened fire at the special task force unit’s vehicle. Police retaliated and killed six people,” he said.
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said members of the Task Force, Pietermaritzburg Crime Intelligence, Durban K9 Unit, Pietermaritzburg Highway Patrol, Pietermaritzburg Flying Squad and Pietermaritzburg Hawks were involved in the operation.
Charges of attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition have been opened for investigation at Greytown SAPS.
Three rifles and two handguns have been sent for ballistics testing. Two vehicles were recovered at the scene and the other found abandoned near the Pinetown area.
Police have appealed to the public to call 086 001 0111 if they know the whereabout of the suspects, but were warned not to approach them. They are armed and dangerous.
Sunday Tribune
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