Crime spree: Burglary in Sri Lankan envoy’s house

Capital police bust muggers, Pindi police catch retired govt officer for conning pensioners

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: In a blatant case of security lapse, burglars entered Sri Lankan High Commissioner’s home and stole some lamps and taps.

Although the value of the stolen goods was not high, the fact that intruders managed to enter and exit the residence of an envoy was shocking.

An official of the Sri Lankan High Commission Sojeva Amarnath filed a report with the Margalla police stating that thieves have stolen brass lamps and bathroom taps from the high commissioner’s residence in Sector F-8/2 lane 21.

The value of stolen lamps and bathroom fittings has been stated as Rs70,000 in the report.

In the last four days, Islamabad police claimed to have arrested four gangs of street criminals, a gang looting people after giving them lift, peddlers selling drugs to students and a bootlegger supplying bottles at homes on phone calls.

DSP Hussain Lasi and ASI Akram Ranjha arrested Irfan Bigona, Khalid and Ayaz. All three were armed with loaded 30 bore pistols.

In another incident DSP Lasi, ASI Sur Gul Khan and others chased and caught three men riding a bike near Social Security Hospital. The suspects Israr, Irfan and Rizwan Taji were riding a stolen bike and carrying an illegal weapon. It later turned out that they had also committed a murder.

ASI Rasheed Ahmed from Sabzi Mandi police arrested Gohar, Sheheryar and Abdil who used to give lift to the people in their vehicle and loot them.

A team of Tarnol police station headed by ASI Aamir Abbas arrested Asif, Zeeshan and Baber for stealing motorbikes. SI Haji Ghulam Shabbir and ASI Farhaid Ali from Shalimar police arrested Shehr Yar and Junaid Khan and recovered two stolen bikes from them.

SI Muhammad Afzad and ASI Zohar Khan from Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) arrested Mohammad-Ullah, Rafique and recovered two stolen vehicles from them.

Inspector Riaz Wajih from Homicide Unit arrested Mohammad Khan, Waqas Khan and Waqar Ahmed Khan resident of Itfaq Town Islamabad involved in murder case committed in area of Ramana police station. SI Muhammad Ashraf from Golra police arrested Salah Uddin for supplying drugs at educational institutions and recovered 120 grammes hashish and 10 grammes meth-ice. Another suspect Mir Wali was caught with 250 grammes of heroin.

CIA police team also arrested Sunil Masish, resident of France Colony sector F-7/4, for having 55 bottles of liquor.

Con artist caught

Police have arrested a conman who cheated public at large in the name of investment in business with promises of exorbitant profits.

The suspect, Atif Qayum, turned out to be a retired government officer, said officials of Cantt police stations.

His gang had swindled 250 people of Rs4 billion in the name of giving them huge returns and safe investment.

“We were on the lookout for this man for months,” SHO Cantt Mian Imran Abbas told Daily Express.

There are many FIRs registered against the suspect regarding fraud, cheating and bounced cheques in Cantt, Westridge and other police stations of Rawalpindi, Abbas said.

He said that Roheqa Muddasir, a resident of Abbottabad, had registered a case in Cantt police station and informed that she gave Atif Qayyum Rs2 million in 2017 for business.

She said that Qayum had convinced her of investing the sum in very lucrative business which would generate huge profits.

“Qayum gave a cheque for Rs2 million, which was dishonoured by the issuing bank and after that he disappeared,” the complainant had told the police.

Police searched for the suspect but he was not available at any of his addresses, however, Abbasi said, “we kept our informers alert to let us know if this person is seen anywhere in the city.”

During this time, the police received information that the suspect who had fled abroad has been sighted in Rawalpindi.

“For the conman’s victims the news was like sighting of the Eid moon,” Abbasi said.

Once his location was confirmed a police party swooped down and picked him up.

In the interrogation room, Qayum was quick to confess to his crimes and also disclosed his associates.

He was part of a gang of swindlers expert in marketing business ideas and then running away with money.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2018.