Gang involved in heist busted

Rawalpindi police have busted a two-member criminal gang allegedly involved in stealing over Rs15 million in cash during a break-in at a merchant's shop located in Ganj Mandi Bazaar.

During a press conference, Operations SSP Faisal Saleem revealed that criminals had stolen more than Rs15 million in cash from a cosmetics wholesaler's shop in the Ganj Mandi area.

Through investigative work, utilising human intelligence and CCTV footage, the police successfully identified and apprehended the culprits identified as Saifullah and Ghafar, he said. A total of Rs13.2 million has been recovered from them.

Both accused have a history of involvement in similar criminal activities, particularly burglary, he added.

The officer emphasised the ongoing efforts to make Rawalpindi a drug-free city, with the support of the local community. He said the police have taken a substantial step by apprehending around 300 drug addicts from the city and the cantonment area.

These individuals have been relocated to rehabilitation centres in Taxila and the surrounding regions as part of this initiative.

Faisal Saleem also disclosed another development in a murder case that had remained unsolved for two weeks. He said the victim's wife was found to be complicit in the crime.

He said she, along with her lover, had shot and killed her husband Mohammad Noor.

After the incident, they attempted to mislead the authorities by concocting a false narrative, claiming that an unknown intruder had entered the house through the roof and committed the murder.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2023.