Police bust street gang involved in over 20 snatching incidents

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Noon police arrested a gang of six criminals who were involved in over a dozen incidents of street crime in the federal capital, a spokesperson informed on Tuesday.

The police also recovered snatched motorbikes, mobile phones and weapons along with ammunition from them.

According to details, SSP (Operations) Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer had categorically directed all Zonal SPs to accelerate efforts to arrest the suspects involved in street crime and snatching incidents and recover the looted items.

Following these directions, Industrial Area SP Fida Hussain Satti constituted police teams under the supervision of Sabzi Mandi SDPO Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti.

A team headed by Noon police station SHO Sub-inspector Ishtiaq Hussain Shah, Sub-inspector Muhammad Imran and other police officials ensured strict vigilance in the area and succeeded in nabbing six snatchers involved in numerous street crime incidents in the twin cities.

The accused were identified as Aleem Khan alias Haji (Gang leader), Rizwan, Muhibullah, Shahid Atta, Mehzuban and Salamat Khan alias Faisal. The team also recovered eight motorbikes, 16 mobile phones and six pistols along with ammunition from their possession.

SSP (Operations) disclosed that during the preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in over 21 incidents of snatching and street crime in the twin cities, including 11 incidents in the Sabzi Mandi area, nine in the area of Noon police station and one in Rawalpindi.

Inspector General of Police Qazi Jamilur Rehman and DIG (Operations) Afzaal Ahmed Kausar appreciated this performance and announced cash rewards and commendation certificates for the police team.

SSP Operations emphasised that Islamabad Police is determined to curb snatching incidents in the city while numerous gangs have been apprehended previously. "Safety and security of the citizens is our duty and no stone would be left unturned in this regard," he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^h, 2021.