Deft move: Gang of robbers busted

Suspects confess to over 20 robberies in Islamabad during past year.

ISLAMABAD:

The police arrested a five-member gang of robbers on Friday night. The gang has allegedly committed at least 20 incidents of armed robbery in the capital during the past 12 months.

According to the police, the arrested suspects — Shamsullah, Muhammad Daud, Abdul Nazir, Khanzada and Noor — are Nurzai Pashtuns from the Ishkmish village of Takhar province in Afghanistan, the authorities said. The village is located in northern Afghanistan along the Tajikistan border.

The police impounded a Toyota Corolla, and seized four pistols, 100 rounds, four masks, a wrench and pliers from the suspects.

A five-member Afghan gang apprehended in February had disclosed the details of the gang arrested on Friday night, according to the police.

A police team tracked the movement of the gang and closed in for the arrest on Friday.

According to Saddar Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ilyas, the gang members would come to Pakistan three to four times each month. He said they mostly struck areas closer to the hills, including Golra Sharif and sectors F-10, F-11 and G-11.

The police claimed the suspects have confessed to more than 20 robberies in Islamabad in the initial investigations. Further investigation is under way.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2014.