Crackdown: Several gangs busted

Includes group which used fake currency notes during OLX purchases

ISLAMABAD: The special investigation unit (SIU) of the capital police busted four criminal gangs and recovered two vehicles, three bikes, fake currency and weapons from their possession, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

In a press statement, the police said they had received reports of citizens being robbed by men on motorbikes, as well as fake cash payments by buyers on the online platform OLX.

In light of these reports, special teams were constituted which traced those involved and arrested ten criminals from four gangs.

Police recovered two vehicles, three bikes, fake currency worth Rs30,000, Rs80,000 in cash, and two 30-bore pistols from the possession of the suspects.

Two of the arrested men, Daulat Khan from Mohmand Agency and Abid, a resident of Jalalabad, Afghanistan, confessed to murdering Awais Khan in Sabzi Mandi.

Three other Jalalabad residents, Lal Agha, Zahir Khan and Ismail were said to rob passengers. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol from the men as they confessed to several incidents in Tarnol and Taxila.

Two others from Jalalabad, Gul Agha and Rozi Gul were found involved in armed robberies aboard motorcycles in various areas. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol and two motorbikes from their possession.

Rawalpindi residents Rizwana, alias Misbah, Ahsan Hassan and Raja Shah were apprehended for giving fake currency notes to those selling mobile phones through OLX.

The gang would ask sellers to meet them before an automated teller machine and pretend to withdraw money from the bank before paying the sellers.

Proclaimed offender Muhammad Yunus was also apprehended. Yunus was wanted by the Industrial Area police in connection with a fraud case.

Investigations are under way on all those arrested, the police said, adding that they were hopeful of making further recoveries from the detainees.

SIU chief and SSP Operations Sajid Kiani announced cash prizes and commendation certificates for members of the SIU teams.

SIU was formed recently to tackle special cases of crime in the capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2015.