Cops ‘robbed’ of ammunition and weapons

Police say weapons were stolen from a training school, DSP denies the incident.

MULTAN: Police officials at a police training school warehouse admitted that ammunition worth millions of rupees was stolen from the compound on Saturday. According to the police, a large team has been deployed to investigate the matter in detail.

According to officials, hundreds of bullets and rifles worth millions of rupees have been stolen and district police have confirmed that over 400 bullet cases were stolen.

Police officials have accused constables Azam and Zulfiqar of being involved in the robbery. District superintendent police (DSP) of the training school, Rab Nawaz Tariq, said “This is not a serious matter and there is no need to be worried. We will recover the ammunition and catch those responsible.”

“Ammunition is routinely sent to various areas. Everything will be clear once a report is produced,” he said, rejecting all reports that any ammunition was missing.

Meanwhile, police officials have said that confiscated drugs and weapons were also missing from the training centre. “The warehouse in-charge is also missing and the SP investigation is inspecting the warehouse but the higher authorities aren’t even willing to acknowledge that a robbery has occurred,” a constable said.

Police sources said that the drugs were being supplied to drug dealers in the district and alleged that this had become a side business for several corrupt police officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2010.