Robbed: Judge steps in to speed up investigations into house robbery

Robbery took place at the house of a sessions judge on Sep 24.

HYDERABAD: The lacklustre response of the police to a robbery at the house of a sessions judge has forced the judges to step in and speed up the investigations.

On Friday, Hyderabad district and sessions judge Aijaz Khaskheli ordered SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi to act as an investigation officer to arrest the suspects, submit progress reports regularly and recover the stolen items. Sessions judge Zameer Tunio's house was robbed on September 24.

The SSP was also directed to include former Bhitai Nagar police SHO, Ali Nawaz Marri, who was suspended because of his inaction and suspected involvement in the crime, in the suspects’ list. "The SHO didn't even bother to register an FIR. His involvement in the commission of offence can't be ruled out," the order read.

According to the new SHO, Naek Muhammad Khoso, three armed robbers broke into the judge's house in Citizen Colony. Holding the family hostage, they collected cash and goods and fled.

In his order, Khaskheli asked the SSP to submit a progress report to the relevant judicial magistrate and one to his office on September 30. "No excuse in this respect shall be acceptable and in case the accused are not arrested and the property is not recovered, necessary action in accordance with the law shall follow."

The judge noted that the robbery incident happened on September 24, but the FIR was not registered till the new SHO took charge on September 26. "This happened despite the fact that the son of judge, Ahsand Zameer Tunio, had filed a written complaint against the robbery at the relevant police station," he observed.