Robbers in police uniforms loot Rs9.5m from butchers

Armed robbers impersonating policemen looted Rs9.5 million and other valuables from more than a dozen butchers travelling from Orangi Town to Mirpurkhas near the Toll Plaza on Superhighway in the early hours of April 30. The robbery took place near the shrine of Saint Jalal Shah Bukhari in Gadap Town, within the jurisdiction of Gadap City police station.

As per police report, the butcher were intercepted at around 2.45am by suspects travelling in a white Vigo SUV which didn't have a licence plate. Four of the eight robbers were dressed in police uniforms. They were heavily armed and forcibly stopped the butchers' Hiace van, which was en route to the Mirpurkhas livestock market.

The butchers, hailing from Urdu Chowk, Orangi Town No 10, were on a weekly trip to purchase cattle in Mirpurkhas. Police registered the FIR on the complaint of Farhan, son of Muhammad Aslam Qureshi, a resident of Orangi Town. Farhan recounted that the robbers held the butchers at gunpoint and looted cash, mobile phones, and other valuables from them.

According to the FIR, the robbers looted amounts ranging from Rs17,000 to over Rs1 million, alongside valuable smartphones, documents, and personal belongings.

Victims expressed concern over the police conduct, saying that an ASI in a black Vigo appeared on the scene immediately after the robbers fled and inquired about the incident. The ASI gave the robbers chase but never returned or spoke again to the victims.

The butchers alleged that although they informed Duty Officer ASI Liaquat Ali about the suspects being dressed in police uniforms, this crucial detail was omitted from the initial police report. Although, victims had no phones to contact police, a Madadgar 15 mobile van reached shortly after the robbery, raising suspicions about how police were alerted.

The victims have appealed to senior police officials to take notice of the incident, investigate the apparent impersonation of police, and recover the stolen money and valuables.

Fake cops arrested

The Surjani Town police conducted a raid in Sector 5D, New Karachi and arrested two fake police officials, identified as Shoaib and Saeed Jalal.

According to SSP West Tariq Elahi Mastoi, the suspects were wearing police uniforms and harassing innocent people. Upon receiving information, the police took action and arrested them, recovering police uniforms, cash, and other documents from them. A case has been registered against them, and an investigation has been initiated.