Robbers go on looting spree in capital

ISLAMABAD: Robbers looted up to millions of rupees along with valuables and injured two persons in separate incidents, police said on Thursday.

In the first incident, a gang of three gunmen looted Rs 8 million from a man at D-17, they said.

Sohail Ahmed, a resident of Lower Dir, along with Najeeb Ullah, came over to Islamabad to pay for a house that he had bought, they said, adding that he brought Rs 6.2 million in cash for the house. Besides, he had also converted Saudi Riyal worth Rs 1,732,000 to the local currency from a money changer at Sadar Rawalpindi.

Later, he went to D-17 from Sadar Rawalpindi along with the cash. After reaching D-17, Najeeb Ullah left the car to pray, while Sohail Ahmed remained in the car along with the cash.

In the meantime, three riders on a motorcycle appeared at the scene and held Sohail Ahmed at gunpoint, looted Rs 8 million from him, and escaped from the spot, the police added.

In another incident, gunmen beat and injured a man during robbery at his house located in the area of Mera Sumbal Jaffer, police said.

Four persons armed

with weapons raided the house of Mohammad Afzal before Sehr when the family was sleeping.

They held up the family at gunpoint and looted cash Rs 100,000, an Infinix Smart 7, and a black francolin bird.

During the robbery, the gunmen also beat and injured Afzal with pistol butts resulting in head injuries, the police said, adding that later, the criminals escaped from the house along with the booty.

Moreover, criminals and their accomplices beat and injured a man during the robbery after he identified them as individuals from his neighbourhood, the police said.

Two masked gunmen intercepted Hamza, a rickshaw driver by profession, at Benazir Town, Bharakahu, and held him up at gunpoint. The gunmen looted Rs10,000 and a mobile from him; however, Hamza put up resistance.

During the resistance, the masks of the gunmen fell, and Hamza identified them as members of his neighbourhood, the police said, adding that, however, the gunmen escaped along with the booty.

Later, Ashfaq Ahmed, father of Hamza, approached the fathers of the robbers and informed them about the criminal activities of their sons, they said, adding that in response, the gunmen’s fathers assured him that they would inquire into the matter.

Later, the same two gunmen, along with three other persons, went over the house of Ashfaq Ahmed, armed with pistols and iron rods, attacked him and started beating him when he came outside.

One of the gunmen also fired at him;however he survived, they said, adding that hearing the gunshot, Hamza also came out of the house and snatched a pistol from one of the gunmen.

Later, the attackers escaped from the spot.

Meanwhile, thieves stole PTCL underground cable laid near the PTCL building, located in the heavily guarded Red Zone, the police said.

The thieves entered the building in F-5 through a manhole near gate No. 2, they said, adding that later they stole cables worth hundreds of thousand rupees after cutting them.

Similarly, thieves stole a transformer 63 KVA worth Rs 1,750,000 installed at Eleventh Avenue, police said.