The industrial and rural zones of the federal capital have been hotbeds of crime, as the armed dacoits and robbers looted several houses and took away cash, gold ornaments and other valuables in the areas during the last week.
The armed robbers and dacoits remained active in the limits of Industrial Area, Tarnol, Sihala, Golra and Khanna police stations during the last week. In the same period, armed dacoits entered into a medical store in a broad daylight located at sector I-10 Markaz, held the staff and clients hostage at gunpoint and looted cash. They escaped from the scene after resorting to aerial firing.
Medical store owner Fakhar Raza lodged a complaint with Sabzi Mandi police station along with video footage of the incident but police have so far failed to arrest the culprits. The incidents of snatching at gunpoint have been continuing in the same area for the last few months but police act as salient spectators.
Similarly, a few months ago a group of armed robbers snatched jewellery and cash from a couple at gunpoint in Sector I-10, street No. 92, as soon as they arrived at their residence from airport early in the morning. The armed robbers also opened firing at the crime scene during the incident and escaped.
The victim informed police about the incident but they just registered the case and have failed to track down the accused so far.
A police official talking to Business Recorder on condition of anonymity said that rise in armed robberies and dacoities in less-developed sectors and rural areas is due to lack of focus of high-ups of police on these areas as well as less police patrolling. He said that police high officials only focus on posh areas of the city and security of VIPs.
In the same period, Khanna police station registered two cases of robbery. One Shakeel lodged a complaint with Khanna police station that two armed robbers riding a bike snatched a mobile phone of Rs 15,000 from him. One Bashrat Rehman informed Khanna police station that accused Bilal and others allegedly broke locks of his shop and stole Rs 40,000.
One Sajid Memhood lodged a complaint with Golra police station that unidentified thieves stole iron material of Rs 300,000 from his shop. Motor vehicle thieves stole a car bearing registration number RIA-9571 of Rs 400,000 from the limits of Ramna police station.
In the same period, Kohsar and Karachi Company police stations registered one case each of robbery and auto theft while a murder case was reported to Bhara Kahu police station.