Killers of taxi driver caught, claim police

Say coordinated crackdown disrupted major robbery, snatching and burglary networks

ISLAMABAD:

The capital police claimed on Friday to have arrested the killers involved in the abduction and murder of taxi driver Muhammad Rasheed in the Sumbal Police Station area, detained 20 suspects from nine criminal gangs implicated in murder, armed robbery, street crime, and burglary, and recovered gold jewellery valued at Rs20 million. In total, 36 cases have been successfully concluded.

Speaking at a press conference at the Rescue 15 office, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Muhammad Jawad Tariq, said that members of the Sain Gang had stolen Rs4.5m from the accountant of Punjab Cash & Carry in Bhara Kahu. The suspects have since been apprehended and the stolen cash recovered.

In a separate incident at the Shell petrol station in Sector I-8 Markaz, suspects snatched Rs5.6m from the manager before fleeing. The police retrieved the amount.

In Blue Area, the same gang stole Rs 3.7m from the accounts officer of Friends Mega Mart, which has also been recovered.

At Benazir Chowk (Tarnol), a shopkeeper was killed after resisting a robbery at a plywood store. This gang has been linked to multiple crimes across the capital, including the robbery of a citizen outside a bank.

They operated in the jurisdictions of Lohi Bher, Aabpara, Kohsar, Shehzad Town, Sabzi Mandi, and Ramna police stations, targeting individuals withdrawing cash. Police have recovered Rs3.45m from them.

Another gang, known as the Road Snatchers Gang, carried out mobile-phone and cash snatchings in Shehzad Town and I-9. Officers recovered Rs165,000 from the suspects, who now face prosecution.