Quick response: Mastermind of bank robbery caught by police

KARACHI:

The police declared the arrest of a gang leader of criminals involved in bank robberies, extortion and target killings.

At a press conference on Tuesday, district East police chief Munir Shaikh announced that the police, Rangers and the Rapid Response Force have arrested the ringleader of a criminal gang, Asif Mirza, after a raid at their hideout in Baloch Para in Jamshed Quarters.

The ringleader’s three companions, Ghulam Abbas, Hafiz alias Dabba and Parkash alias Commander, were also arrested.

The DIG said that the arrested ringleader, who belonged to the Lyari gang, was the mastermind behind Monday’s attempted bank robbery in Ferozabad in which a private security guard was killed.

Later, the police caught up with the suspects and killed two of their accomplices in an encounter. During initial interrogation, the accused ringleader revealed to have robbed at least three banks.

Meanwhile, a member of the Lyari gangsters, Riaz, was also arrested by Sharae Faisal police. Riaz confessed that he killed police head constable, Azizullah for arresting a drug peddler, Muhammad Ali, said the DIG.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2013.