Three suspected criminals shot dead by police

Three suspected criminals, believed to be foreigners, were shot dead by the police at an oil palm plantation in Kampung
Batu 1, Pedas, today.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh said the incident occurred about 4.55am when a police team, on patrol in the area, bumped into the suspects who were pushing their respective motorcycles.

He said the suspects were believed to be fleeing from a house in the area when the barking of the dogs woke up the owner.

“In their escape, they bumped into the police team. The suspects, in their 20s and armed with machetes, attempted to attack the police and, acting in self-defence, the police fired at them,” he told a media conference here today.

He said several items, believed to be used to break into houses, like a cutter, iron hammer, a saw, screw driver, ski masks and gloves, were found in a bag on one of the suspects.

Police also seized three motorcycles, three machetes of various sizes and six crash helmets, he added.

He said the bodies of the suspected criminals were sent to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital, Seremban, for post-mortems.

Osman said the police had been tracking the suspects, believed to be members of a syndicate, since six months ago, following several reports of house breaking, especially in Kuala Pilah and Seremban.

They were also believed to be responsible for some of the robbery cases reported in Selangor and Melaka, he added.

He said police were looking for other members of the gang, including one, who is believed to be injured.

– Bernama