Highway Robbery: Passenger bus looted at gunpoint

FAISALABAD:

A band of unidentified robbers looted a passenger bus by bursting its tyres in the Bahlak police station precincts on Sunday.

According to police officials, a passenger bus bound for Bahawal Nagar from Faisalabad was intercepted by eight armed bandits near Mari Patan Bridge, but the bus driver accelerated instead of stopping the vehicle at the picket erected by the robbers.

As a result, the robbers opened fire on the bus and burst the rear tyres of the vehicle. The robbers then held the passengers hostage at gunpoint and beat up the bus driver and several passengers who tried to flee the scene.

The robbers then proceeded to steal cash, jewels, cell phones and other valuables from the passengers.

Passengers told reporters that the bus was looted in connivance with the area police as it erected a special check post which was only a few yards away from the incident but no police officials reached the scene despite hearing firing. Police officials have registered a case on the complaint of transporter Usman Bashir and are investigating.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2011.