Failed bank robbery: Desperate times call for masala measures

The robber rubbed chili powder into the guard’s eyes, trying to gain entrance


Our Correspondent August 10, 2016
The robber was later identified as 17-year-old Wahid Zahid, resident of Yousuf Goth. Zahid's two companions managed to escape from the scene. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: Robbers, in a first-of-its-kind incident, instead of using firearms, employed the use of 'red-chili' as a weapon during a bid to rob a bank on Wednesday. However, the security guard of the bank managed to foil the heist.

A group of robbers, including at least three men, attempted to rob a North Karachi branch of Bank Al Habib within the limits of Khawaja Ajmer Nagri police station.  According to the footage recorded by the bank's close-circuit camera, one of the robbers, who was clad in a trouser, T-shirt and cap, while entering the bank, ran towards the security guard positioned at the entrance and rubbed a huge amount of chili powder into the his eyes, trying to gain entrance. The guard fought off the robber, managing to capture him. Another guard and people from the bank came outside and started to beat up the robber.

The police reached the site and took custody of the robber. "The robber was unarmed and he intended to snatch the guard's weapon in a bid to rob cash from the bank, but he and his companions failed," said DSP Altaf Hussain.

The robber was later identified as 17-year-old Wahid Zahid, resident of Yousuf Goth. Zahid's two companions managed to escape from the scene. However, the police conducted a search operation on information provided by Zahid and were able to arrest another robber, who was identified as Uzair alias Ajji from New Karachi. Police said a case has been registered and a search for the third robber is under way. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2016.

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