Rs1.9m bank heist in DHA

KARACHI: At least four unidentified robbers stole Rs1.9 million from a private bank’s branch in DHA on Tuesday.

Three of the culprits barged into the bank located in Akhter Colony near Ittehad signal at 1 pm and managed to escape three minutes later.

They took all the employees and customers hostages during the robbery.

Clifton SP Tariq Razzak Dharejo said that the dacoits also took the security guard’s pistol with them. Another police official confirmed this but added that the bandits shot the guard upon resistance. “He fell to the ground after getting injured and that is when they took his gun,” he said.

The security guard, Khayal Muhammad, son of Sher Khan, was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment.

The bandits appeared to be Baloch and were wearing shalwar kameez, said a police officer, quoting a witness.

The police have collected footage of the robbery recorded in the CCTV camera and initiated a probe into the case, Dharejo said.

Since the bank falls within the jurisdiction of Defence police station, it may be pertinent to mention that around two hours before the robbery, Deputy Inspector General South Zone had suspended Defence police station SHO Yaqoob Samoo. When contacted, Samoo confirmed his suspension.

This is the third bank robbery in the first five days of October. The police have yet to find out who these bandits are even though CCTV footage of all bank heists are available.

The police have yet to file an FIR against the robbery.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2010.