KARACHI: Robbers looted over Rs9 million from the cash van of a private bank in Korangi after shooting and wounding two private security guards on Thursday, police said.

Korangi SSP Mohammed Tariq Nawaz told the media four robbers traveling in a car intercepted the bank van carrying cash near Brookes Chowrangi. As the guards put up resistance, the robbers resorted to firing, resulting in bullet wounds to Mohammed Khalid, 55, and Sudhir Iqbal, 60.

He said that they looted the cash and escaped in their car. However, Investigation SSP Mohammed Qais Khan told Dawn that the robbers` car met an accident in the area. As a result, they abandoned their vehicle, snatched another four-wheeler and managed to escape.

He said the car abandoned by the robbers had been seized by the police and investigators were trying to find out its owner to ascertain whether it was a snatched / stolen vehicle.

While the police said the exact amount of looted cash was not known, Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said in a statement that the robbers took away Rs9.736m.

The minister directed the Korangi S SP for immediate action, asking him to depute an expert police officer for investigation and detection of the case through modern techniques and equipment.

The police said that the wounded security guards were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment.

Their condition is said to be stable, they added.