Police bust gang of robbers impersonating govt officials

As per preliminary investigation, suspects confess to their involvement in several incidents

KARACHI:

The Surjani Town police have busted two members of a notorious gang responsible for a series of robberies in residences impersonating government officials. The suspected robbers, identified as Arbaz and Junaid Saraiki, were part of a six-member criminal syndicate.

Utilizing technical expertise, police carried out an operation, leading to the recovery of illegal weapons, gold ornaments, mobile phones, wallets, LCDs, and various other stolen items from the suspects.

SSP West Mehroz Ali revealed that the modus operandi of the suspects involved impersonating government servants during their criminal activities. As per the preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in several incidents.

One incident occurred on Nov 2, when the suspects, along with their accomplices, forcibly entered the residence of Jamshed in Ali Muhammad Goth, Lyari 36. Jamshed and his 10-year-old son were confined and blindfolded in a room while the suspects, brandishing weapons, stole gold ornaments, a 30-bore pistol, Rs80,000, and a new mobile phone from the house.

In another incident on Sept 19, the gang targeted the house of Abdul Khaliq in Ajmer Goth, Surjani Town. Posing as government officials, they took the family hostage and fled after looting gold ornaments and cash. Yet another incident took place on Feb 16, when the criminals, pretending to be police officers, entered the residence of Noor Jahan in Yaro Khan Goth, Surjani Town. After locking the occupants in a room, they made off with gold ornaments, cash, cell phones, and other valuables.

On August 30, the arrested suspects, along with their accomplices, entered the house of Basharat in Gaddu Goth, Surjani Town, looting Rs500,000 in cash, two tolas of gold, and mobile phones at gunpoint.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2023.