Durban - Armed robbers ambushed two Howick dog unit policemen on Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other.
The policemen, who were responding to an emergency call after a security guard had been robbed, may have chanced upon a gang of heavily armed ATM bombers, police sources said.
Constable Vidhur Jadoo, 37, attached to the Pietermaritzburg K9 Unit died in a hail of bullets in the line of duty in Howick while his partner, whose name has not been released, is fighting for his life in a city hospital.
Jadoo joined the police force nine years ago and was with the dog unit for five years.
His colleagues, who have launched a manhunt for his killers, described him as a “dedicated and honest cop”.
One K9 policeman, who declined being named, and who worked closely with Jadoo over the past five years, said that they would stop at nothing to find his killers.
“This will never be over until we find them,” the policeman said.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni was expected to visit the slain policeman’s family on Wednesday.
According to details released by police on Wednesday morning, Jadoo and his partner had reported to the scene of an armed robbery at Midmar Dam in Howick.
It is alleged that a security guard had been robbed of his cellphone, his torch and diesel.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said that the two K9 Unit policemen had taken a statement from the victim and left the dam, when they noticed the suspicious behaviour of five occupants in a vehicle.
“The members then tried to get the car to pull over but they sped off,” Zwane said.
According to policemen on the scene, Jadoo and his partner followed the suspects through the streets of Howick, until the suspects eventually stopped their car in the middle of Midmar Road and lay in wait, armed to the teeth, until the policemen caught up with them.
It is here, when the police car approached the suspect’s car, that they opened fire on the officers, wounding them both.
Several spent AK-47, R5 and 9mm cartridges were found on the scene. The robbers then fled in their vehicle, which was later found abandoned.
Zwane said police found a gun, commercial explosives, electronic detonators and a hammer inside the abandoned car. “These are generally used in ATM bombings,” he said.
Two ATMS at Merrivale Spar, just outside Howick, were bombed last week.
Zwane said at this stage it was unknown whether these suspects could be linked to the Merrivale bombings.
Police are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
Jadoo’s partner, remains in critical care in hospital. He was shot several times.
Daily News