Security guard killed as another Gulistan-e-Johar bank loses millions to bandits

In another incident, guards steal Rs10 million from cash van of money changer.

KARACHI: Gulistan-e-Johar appears to becoming increasingly dangerous for financial institutions, as the Habib Metropolitan Bank’s branch in the area was robbed of Rs3.6 million on Monday.

One of the branch’s security guards was killed and another injured as they tried to prevent at least five bandits from looting the bank. In a rather contrasting incident, security guards of a private money changer took Rs10 million from the company’s money van and fled.

On October 2, bandits had looted Rs4.5 million from the Gulistan-e-Johar branch of Bank Al Habib.

In the 19th bank robbery to take place in the city this year, police said that the bandits arrived on motorcycles at the bank, located in Block 4, around 1:30 pm and forced the two security guards into the building. According to SHO Asif Rauf, some of the bandits were busy gathering money and the others were keeping watch over the security guards and the bank’s staff. They opened fire on the security guards when they reportedly resisted their captors. Mir Hassan, 48, son of Hanif Shah, died while Lal Zareen, son of Kamal Shah, was injured. The bandits also reportedly beat other members of the bank’s staff. They also took away the CCTV cameras installed at the bank.

SHO Rauf told The Express Tribune that the culprits wore shalwar kameez and were speaking in Pashtu. The robbers also took away the CCTV cameras that were installed at the bank, and also the deceased guard’s revolver.

Judging from the tactics involved in recent heists around the city, police suspect that a single group of robbers might be involved. SHO Rauf said that the sketches of the robbers were being made, and they will later compare it with with the culprits of other bank robberies.

Guards rob money-changing agency

Two private security guards at the Glaxy money changer looted over Rs10 million from the cash van of the company on Monday. Police said that Shams and Ashfaq were in the cash van as it was on its way to a bank when they turned their weapons on other staff members and the driver. They asked the driver to stop the van in Sharfabad, and were soon joined by their accomplices who arrived on motorcycles. After looting the cash, the two guards escaped with their companions on the motorcycles. According to Jamshed Town ASP Ghulam Murtaza Malik, the bandits stole Rs9 million in Pakistani rupee notes, with the remaining denominated in Saudi riyals. ASP Malik added that police are inquiring about the guards from the private security company.