Bank heists baffle capital police

Sources say authorities probing 'use of official weapons' in daylight robberies

ISLAMABAD:

The capital police are grappling with a series of alarming bank and cash van robberies that have left one man dead, injured 13 others, and resulted in the theft of Rs1.8 million. Despite registering separate cases, authorities have yet to apprehend any suspects involved in these daylight heists.

In the first case registered at Sumbal police station, the manager of Allied Bank G-14 reported an armed robbery in which a suspect disarmed a security guard, Fazal, injured him while another robber barged into the bank and got away with Rs1.8 million in cash.

In a separate robbery case filed at Tarnol police station, Nauman Arshad reported that as he was travelling in a cash van to deposit funds to a bank from a petrol station, an unidentified gunman opened fire, injuring five people, including a passer-by. He added that he was in the van and locked it from inside, evading further harm.

A third incident was reported at Karachi Company police station, where Tanveer Hussain described an assault outside his hotel. He said that his cousin, Mir Haider, was fatally shot, and three security guards, as well as bystanders, were injured when a cash van came under attack outside a bank. The suspects fled the scene after committing the crime.

In the first incident reported at the I/9 police station, Muhammad Hussain recounted how he and a security guard were attacked by an armed man on the I/9-3 service road. Security guard Mohammad Rafiq was injured in the leg but managed to defend Rs5.8 million in cash. The suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Suspected use of official weapons

Authorities suspect that official weapons may have been employed in these robberies. A report filed at the Secretariat police station has raised concerns regarding the potential misuse of government firearms. Investigations have revealed that modern official weapons were mistakenly allocated to an unauthorized individual.

According to the security division's report, an unidentified suspect fled with an SMG and jacket issued from the Route Headquarters. This individual, dressed in uniform, claimed to be named Dilawar and identified himself as part of the Special Protection Unit (SPU). He displayed a belt number belonging to an official named Saddam.

The suspect managed to secure an SMG with serial number 2183 and a jacket with body number 4843472, items issued during the England cricket team's visit to Pakistan. Authorities believe this stolen firearm was likely used in the recent bank robberies.

Leadership changes

In light of these incidents, Islamabad DIG Syed Ali Raza has suspended Sub-Inspector Imran Munir, the SHO of the Karachi Company police station, following the fatal robbery in Sector G-9 that left one dead and six injured. Sub-Inspector Chaudhry Nasir Manzoor from Karpa has been appointed as the new SHO for Karachi Company.

Further changes include the removal of Sub-Inspector Saleem Raza as SHO of Kirpa police station and the replacement of Sub-Inspector Shaukat Abbasi with Sub-Inspector Mian Khurram Shehzad as the new SHO of Shalimar police station.

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