Mina Berandau

Four robbers bit the dust

Four men with weapons attempting to commit robberies were shot dead by police early this morning at Mile 23, of Bintulu-Miri trunk road.

Among the weapons seized from the scene were two home-made revolvers, eight ammunitions, three spent cartridges, two machetes, a cutter, crowbar and screwdrivers.

According to my source, the police who received tip-offs from the public stumbled upon the four men and when the police tried to stop them they were fired upon, while the other robbers were prepared with other weapons.

The police had no choice but to return fire discharging 14 shots killing the four men on the spot.

Police also believed that the four men killed this morning were foreigners involved in 19 robbery cases in Bintulu, including the robbery-cum-murder of a canteen operator at the Kemena Industrial estate on November 3.

The robbers were actually targeting two houses in the vicinity where one of the houses had one of the three dogs being poisoned and another house had its fence cut.

Fire victims received help

Remains of the fire after destroying the quarters on Sunday

Donations kept pouring in today for victims of a pre-dawn fire which destroyed workers quarters at Mile 7 ½ Penrissen Road on Sunday.

In the incident a Chinese man died in the fire which started at 5.20am while another suffered burnt on their bodies and was receiving treatment at the hospital.

The remaining victims who only had their clothes own are being sheltered at the Kota Sentosa community hall here.

The semi-wooden structure was mainly inhabited by contract workers who had rented each unit for RM200 a month.