Police arrest five robbers, recover Rs10m

Suspects had allegedly robbed a driver carrying cash of a private firm

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad, Nowshera and Mardan police have arrested a five-member gang of robbers involved in looting Rs10 million from the driver of a private firm on Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.

An official of Mardan police was also part of the gang, said Nowshera District Police Officer (DPO) Najamul Hasnain on Sunday.

Talking to the media in the federal capital, DPO Hasnain said that the suspects disguised as excise officials had stopped the driver of a private company on Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway in the precincts of Nowshera police station and looted Rs10 million from him last Friday.

The company’s driver, Nihar Ali had informed the police that he had gone from Nowshera to Chakwal to collect payment of the company.

On his return, he was stopped by the suspects who introduced themselves as officials of excise and taxation department. However, the suspects took away cash in the vehicle and fled, Nihar Ali said.

DPO Hasnain told the media persons that a joint investigation team (JIT) of Nowshera, Mardan and Islamabad was formed to catch the robbers. The team utilised all available resources to probe into the incident scientifically and succeeded in arresting the ringleader of the gang.

Later, with the assistance of Islamabad police, a suspect Sharifullah was nabbed from the federal capital and was shifted to Nowshera. Police have recovered the stolen money from the suspects.

The business community of Nowshera and Mardan districts and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) have appreciated the swift action of police force.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2021.