3 killed in armoured car robbery

Vehicle was transporting cash from Chenab Toll Plaza to private bank

GUJRANWALA:

While attempting to rob a van carrying cash from Chenab Toll Plaza to a private bank, suspected robbers allegedly gunned down three people, including a manager, when they posed resistance. The suspects escaped after stealing over Rs6,351,000. A case was registered on the complaint of the sector commander.

Every day, thousands of vehicles pass the toll to travel to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Lahore and other cities of Punjab from Chenab Toll Plaza on GT Road in Wazirabad. On Tuesday, suspected robbers attacked a vehicle carrying three-days of cash collected at the Toll Plaza, which was being taken to be deposited in a private bank.

Two suspects riding a motorcycle allegedly opened fire on the vehicle at Nala Pulkhu. One person died while three others were seriously injured in the crossfire. Both suspects escaped after looting over Rs6,351,000 from the suspects.

Local residents informed rescue teams, who shifted the casualties to HQ Hospital. Reports of the incident spread quickly and the accused were spotted escaping while brandishing weapons. In the incident, the driver of the private security company’s vehicle Altaf, security guard Aftab and supervisor Arbab, were injured by gunfire and succumbed to their injuries on the way to the district hospital. The fourth employee of the security company, Hafeezullah, survived by jumping from the vehicle and sustained injuries, for which he was being treated at the hospital. The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Wazirabad for a post-mortem.

IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar took notice of the incident and sought a report from RPO Gujranwala, issuing orders to arrest the accused as soon as possible.

The deceased Aftab belonged to Tehsil Rawalakot District Bagh, the deceased Altaf to Tehsil Tarar Khul, Arbab to Tehsil Gujar Khan and Hafeezullah to Jhang district.

CPO Gujranwala Rana Ayaz Salem and SSP Operation Hasan Afzal reached the spot, accompanied by a contingent of police officers. CCTV footage of the incident went viral, where the suspected robbers can be seen firing on the vehicle and looting the money in large bags.

The CPO registered a case and immediately set up three teams including the CIA to track and arrest the suspects.

The teams were instructed to fulfill the requirement of justice and arrest the accused immediately. CPO said that the incident is deplorable and precious lives were lost, but such murderers will be brought under the law soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2023.