Police have killed an unidentified armed robber who engaged a patrol team, in the early hours of Tuesday, in a gun battle at Kenyasi in the Ashanti Region. The deceased, believed to be in his early thirties, and a leader of a gang shot at a policeman but missed. Twenty-one rounds of live ammunition, two chisels, a pepper spray and other items were found on him. The latest incident brings to 21 the number of suspected robbers killed by the police in the Ashanti Region since the beginning of this year. Police said they had a tip-off about the robbery operation at about 3am but the robbers had fled by the time the patrol team arrived. But unknown to the police, the leader of the gang who had sustained gun-shot wounds was hiding in a corner to avoid being spotted. The wounded suspect sensing danger is said to have opened fire, prompting the police to respond, according to a report by Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah. Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, said the crime rate appears to be rising again after recent improvements in the security situation. Armed robbers attacked and wounded a policeman on a bullion van and took away his gun, he said. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana