Rs5.5 million looted in Hattar bank heist

Police using CCTV footage to identify and arrest culprits

HARIPUR:

Six masked robbers looted away Rs5.5 million in cash from a private bank situated in Hattar Industrial Estate on Monday. Police started putting up blockades at different locations to identify and arrest the suspects by using images from the bank’s CCTV footage.

According to sources, a successful robbery incident took place in Bank Al-Habib located in Hattar in which a gang of armed robbers managed to escape safely after snatching millions of rupees in cash at gunpoint.

They said as soon as the incident of robbery was reported, Haripur DPO issued orders for keeping the security on high alert and strict blockade on all entry and exit routes. However, the members of the dacoit gang, who were six in number and were riding three motorcycles, still managed to make good their escape.

The robbers assaulted the security guard as soon as they entered the bank and took the branch manager hostage while locking the door, the sources said and added that the armed robbers also gathered the other staff together at gunpoint. “Within a few minutes, they looted Rs5.5 million in cash and escaped easily on motorcycles,” they said.

Meanwhile, police sources say there are young boys involved in the gang and teams have been sent in different areas to arrest them. “The process of identification from CCTV videos including eye evidence is going on,” they said and added that the personnel arrived at the spot as soon as the information was received.

Police said the statements of the bank staffers were recorded and a case was registered against the unknown robbers on the complaint of the bank’s administration.

School van overturns

As many as 12 schoolchildren were injured when a van they were travelling in overturned near the Makhanyal tourist resort. The injured children were shifted to the Khanpur Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

According to the police, the children’s school van plunged into the ditch due to speeding. As a result, 12 children were injured, they said and added that one child was referred to the Ayub Medical Complex in a critical condition. The police said the initial investigation revealed that the incident occurred due to speeding while taking a turn. They said the van driver also sustained injuries during the incident.

Most of the injured children were discharged from the hospital after provision of first aid. As a result of the accident, the van was destroyed.

According to locals, the van driver did not have a command over driving and he had recently learned to drive. The police registered an initial report of the accident.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2023.