From the shadows : Over three dozen fall victim to highway robbery

Police, locals say a group of 10 bandits involved.

PESHAWAR: Over three dozen people were deprived of their mobile phones and cash on Motorway Service Road within the jurisdiction of the Chamkani police on Tuesday night.

An official of the Chamkani police told The Express Tribune around 10 armed robbers intercepted a pickup with 25 people onboard and looted them of their mobile phones. The same group also robbed several motorcyclists travelling on the road and a woman was deprived of gold jewellery worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

“They were around 10 people who stopped several vehicles, including passenger pickups, and took their money and phones at gunpoint,” he said. Those who resisted were assaulted.

Recurring threat

A resident told The Express Tribune it was not the first time such an incident has occurred.

“A couple of days ago, robbers snatched a vehicle from a man named Shahid and the victim was shot and injured,” he said. “The vehicle belonged to an NGO.”

The local added the incident took place on GT Road within the jurisdiction of the same police station.

“Last night, dozens of people were deprived of their valuables and the situation is perplexing,” he said. “The victims hailed from Akbarpura village in Nowshera district and were on their way home when they were intercepted by armed men.”

Police were informed about the incident, which sent a force to the area. However, the robbers had made their escape by then. Meanwhile, patrolling has been increased in the area but no FIR was filed in the case.

When contacted, another Chamkani police official claimed the incident occurred in the Akbarpura jurisdiction and no one had contacted them in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.