TAXILA, May 8: Wah Saddar police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested 11 members of two gangs of robbers wanted in 35 cases and recovered Rs900,000 and 11 pistols from them.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer DSP Raja Taifoor Akhtar, in a press conference, said taking notice of increasing incidents of robberies in Wah and its surrounding areas, a team under the supervision of SHO Inspector Mohammad Khan was formed. The team succeeded in tracing the alleged robbers who operated from Abbottabad and Charsadda.

The DSP said a gang comprising six robbers, who posed as crew of a public transport vehicle, boarded people from different bus stops on G.T. Road from Rawalpindi, Taxila, Wah Cantt, Hassanabdal, Attock, Haripur and Nowshera in their passenger van and threw them at deserted places after snatching cash, cellphones and other valuables from them.

He said the other gang comprising five alleged robbers, who posed as driver and conductor of a Suzuki van, stopped at various bus stops looted passengers who embarked on their van.

He said the accused were arrested after a brief encounter near Brahma Bhattar motorway interchange.

DSP Akhtar said a laptop and Rs900,000 booty were recovered from these outlaws during preliminary interrogation.

He said a resident of Wah Cantt, Albert Lal, died as these outlaws subjected him to severe torture to snatch cash and valuables from him.

He said after looting him, the robbers threw his body near the Swedish College on the G.T. Road.

While concluding the press briefing, DSP Taifoor Akhtar appreciated the police performance.