THREE SUSPECTED CRIMINALS SHOT DEAD AFTER POLICEMAN SLASHED

MELAKA, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Three suspected criminals were shot dead after one of them slashed a policeman with a machete at an oil palm plantation in Durian Tunggal, Alor Gajah, today.

Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said that in the incident, which occurred at about 4.30 am, the police corporal, in his 30s, was injured on his left arm.

"All three male suspects, aged between 24 and 29, from Geng Durian Tunggal, were on their way to rob a premises when they bumped into a team of police personnel carrying out Op Casa Melaka at the plantation.

"When police tried to apprehend them, one of them acted aggressively by slashing one of the policemen with a machete, injuring him on his left arm,” he told a media conference at the Melaka Police Headquarters here today.

Dzulkhairi said the police had no choice but to open fire on the three suspects in self-defence.

He said two of the suspects were aged 24 and 29, while the third suspect has yet to be identified, as police did not find any identification on his body.

"Geng Durian Tunggal has been involved in crime since 2024, involving 20 cases in Melaka and one case each in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor, with losses totalling RM1.35 million.

"The 29-year-old suspect had 39 crime- and drug-related records while the 24-year-old had 12 previous cases, also related to crime and drugs,” he said.

He said the gang's modus operandi was to park their vehicle in the plantation before walking to rob the premises, such as houses, shops and factories.

He added that police seized three machetes, a grille cutter, three face masks and three pairs of gloves at the scene, while the injured policeman is receiving treatment at the Melaka Hospital.

Dzulkhairi said they have been conducting Op Casa Melaka since last month, following a spike in robbery cases in the state this year.

-- BERNAMA