SHEIKHUPURA, July 21: A group of six swindlers, including two women, deprived many patients and their attendants of cash and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands of rupees at Nankana Sahib DHQ hospital on Saturday.

The swindlers entered the hospital in the guise of activists of a charity organisation and distributed food, sweets and other edibles among the patients and their attendants.

After eating these items dozens of patients and the attendants fell unconscious.

The swindlers then thoroughly searched the victims and escaped with cash and other valuables they found on unconscious people.

Some of the victims were identified as Fatima Bibi, Kausar Bibi (of Boluha Chak), Salim, Allah Bukhsh, Tufail, Rukhsana Bibi (of Purana Nankana).

The victims blamed poor hospital security for the incident, alleging involvement of some hospital staffers in the crime.

Medical Superintendent Dr Nawaz Ranjah, on the other hand, held the patients and their attendants responsible for the incident.

However, he assured the victims of a thorough probe into the matter.