Crime: Five robbers arrested, looted items recovered

ISLAMABAD:

The capital police have arrested five suspected robbers who were allegedly involved in robbery, theft and burglary cases in twin cities, it is learnt.

An official requesting not to be named told the Express Tribune that on a tip-off a police team, led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) City, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dr Khalil Ahmed Bhutta, raided the robbers’ den in sector G-7 and arrested one of them.

The official said he pointed out the hide outs of his accomplices from where they were nabbed and seized one pistol and looted valuables from them.

The suspects, identified as Kashif, Imran, Waheed, Bilal and Arsalan, were wanted in 10 cases of vehicle theft and snatching, robbery and possession of illegal weapons registered at Aabpara and Margalla police stations, the official said.

He added that they have also confessed to mobile phones snatching incidents at different shops in the city.

He said police have started investigation to recover looted valuables from different sectors of the capital as they have sold the looted items at different shops.

He said that the investigation revealed that the culprits are members of an inter-provincial gang who are involved in robberies particularly depriving the passengers returning from foreign countries.

The gang members start chasing the passengers from Islamabad Airport and intercept them at an isolated area of twin cities, he said.

ASP Bhutta said that the criminals had deprived people of their valuables at gunpoint.

He said that police have recovered illegal weapons and cellphones from their custody would also be recovered as they have pointed out their dens where they keep all the looted items.

He said that checkpoints have been increased at night to ensure visible presence of police in city besides the officials in plainclothes deputed in markets and important places for the security of the citizens.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2011.