The unabated bank heists have put a big question mark over the performance of law enforcement agencies as over Rs 19.4 million were looted in two separate robberies at various parts of the metropolis, here on Thursday. Rupees 23.8 million have so far been looted in three robberies during last 24 hours, moving the total to 15 in 2011.
According to police, at around 9:10am, six of 10 armed robbers, barged into the bank located in Solider Bazar police limits and overpowered security guard namely Khanzada and held all staff hostages at gunpoint. Police said although the bank staff has buzzed the alarm to call police, the armed robbers completed their operation before the arrival of police.
They said the robbers looted Rs 4.4 million from the cash counter, other valuables from the staff and also took away CCTV footages. They said the security guards of the bank were taken into custody for interrogation while a case 305/11 was registered on the complaint of bank manager Muhammad Amin.
Later, SSP Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Raja Umer Khattab claimed to have identified the gang, saying that the ringleaders of the gang have been identified as Gulab Shah and Nasir Khan, who hailed from Parachanar. He further said the sketches of the culprits have been prepared and the police department would achieve a breakthrough in this regard, shortly.
Shortly after this robbery, another incident was reported in the jurisdiction of Awami Colony police station where bandits looted Rs 15 million from a cash van in broad daylight at Korangi Road, killing a security guard and injuring two others.
Police said a gang of armed riders, who intercepted the cash, opened indiscriminate firing when the security guards offered resistance, leaving cash van driver namely Mir Sabir, 45 son of Ghulam Ali killed while two others including Mir Zaman, 41 and Gul Faraz, 40 injured. They said the armed looters walked off with a bagful of Rs 15 million and added that at the time of the incident, the van had Rs 60 million cash, of which, the looters could manage to take away Rs 15 million only.
They said the security company has so far not come up to register any complaint of the incident, adding that the injured and the dead body were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and later moved to a private hospital from there. Sources said the rapid increase in bank heists is alarming. It requires stern security measures to avert any untoward incident in Moharram.