KARACHI: The Crime Investigation Department has apprehended a sub inspector with the Anti-Car Lifting Cell for being allegedly involved in cases of car snatching.
SI Ashok Kumar, who has been in the force for at least 15 years, was not only charge sheeted but also suspended from service, Deputy Inspector General Iftikhar Tarrar told The Express Tribune.
“His role in facilitating and making money from various car-snatching mafias operating from Balochistan has now been proven,” Tarrar said. Police sources say that Kumar has a previous criminal history, including a similar case pending against him in Larkana.
The DIG said the SI’s main motivation to work in tandem with criminal networks seemed to be making ‘huge sums of money’ in return for the dirty work.
ACLC SSP Javed Akbar Riaz said departmental action has been initiated. “I will be part of the inquiry and will ensure that he gets the harshest penalty under the department rules and regulations if the charges are found to be correct,” says Riaz. The chief of the ACLC said this was not the first time that police officers have been found to be involved in crimes. “But each time someone does that, it brings a bad name to the unit and also demoralises other honest officers.”
Although the police estimate that hundreds of men are involved in the car-snatching business, around 25 big players are said to be leading the mafia that are based in rural Sindh and Balochistan.
Each car snatcher is estimated to be paid Rs100,000 for the job. This snatcher then hands over the car to the ‘carrier,’ the man who shifts the vehicle to a safehouse. The ‘receiver’ of the car is responsible for arranging the hideout and gets the forged documents made. He gets the engine and chassis numbers changed with the help of certain excise and taxation officials. Police officials such as accused Ashok Kumar also play a key role at this stage by turning a blind eye when they see a forged document.
Also, various officials from not only the police, but other organisations such as the FC, at check posts are suspected of also taking a share on stolen cars when these vehicles make their way outside the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2011.
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