One killed and three injured in police chase with armed individuals in Kerman

Reza Bani Asadi Far, the police chief of Kerman province, stated that several armed individuals engaged with law enforcement in the city of Roudbar-e Jonubi, resulting in three police officers being injured and one armed individual being killed. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Bani Asadi mentioned on Wednesday that on Tuesday evening, the police officers were patrolling their jurisdiction when they encountered a suspicious pickup truck. He stated that the officers approached the suspicious vehicle and ordered it to stop. However, the three occupants of the truck began shooting at the police instead of complying. The police chief did not specify the type of weapons used by these individuals, whom he referred to as 'criminals,' but noted that they were carrying military-grade firearms. During the gunfire, three police officers were injured, though their health status has not been disclosed. One of the armed individuals was killed by the police. According to the provincial police chief, the police forces decided to cease the chase due to darkness and the attackers entering the jurisdiction of Sistan and Baluchestan, allowing the remaining assailants to escape. Roudbar-e Jonubi is located 330 kilometers south of Kerman. In 2013, the then-police chief of Kerman stated that the province was witnessing numerous incidents of kidnapping, abduction, and murder due to drug trafficking and the presence of foreign nationals, with some drug-related issues leading to confrontations with the police. In recent years, several police officers have lost their lives in confrontations with armed individuals in Kerman, particularly on the Bam road.