ISLAMABAD: The Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad police busted eight gangs, comprising 34 suspects, involved in snatching valuables and cash at gunpoint and recovered Rs28.9 million in cash, gold ornaments, mobile phones, vehicles and weapons from them.

Addressing a press conference at Rescue 15 on Friday, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Waqaruddin Syed said a special task was given by IGP Mohammad Aamir Zulfiqar to ensure arrest of those involved in criminal activities. He said CIA teams took prompt action and arrested the 34 suspected criminals of eight gangs in a short span of time.

The DIG said these criminals also included Afghan nationals who used to escape to Afghanistan after committing crime here.

He said the arrested suspects included seven members of ‘Satti gang’ who looted cash from a post office in Rawal Town.

Police recovered the looted Rs5.6 million, weapons, vehicles and bikes used in the robbery, he maintained.

Another gang, including three Afghan nationals, was busted which had looted a house at Orchard Scheme in Khana area after making the inmates hostage.

The DIG said national and foreign currency, imported weapons, gold ornaments and watches worth Rs12.1 million were recovered from the suspects.

Four street criminals of another gang were also held and mobile phones and Rs250,000 cash were recovered from them. A device used to change IMEI numbers of mobile phones was also recovered from one of the suspects.He said four maids were also held who used to loot houses after giving tranquilisers to the inmates, and cash and gold ornaments worth Rs5.1 million were recovered from them.

A gang of burglars, comprising three people, was busted and valuables, including laptops, gold ornaments worth Rs0.95 million, were recovered from them.

Four suspects who used to snatch cash from account holders of a bank branch were also rounded up and the police recovered Rs400,000 and a motorbike from them. The suspects confessed to striking in various areas of Cantonment police in Rawalpindi and killing a man after snatching US dollars from him.

Another gang committing robberies in houses was also busted and cash and gold ornaments worth Rs1.2 million were recovered from them.

The DIG said five people were also held on the charge of snatching valuables from citizens on Islamabad Highway and three 30-bore pistols, two daggers and bikes were recovered from them.

He said the arrested suspects were being investigated and their physical remand had been obtained from courts.

The DIG announced cash prizes and commendation certificates for SP (investigation) Dr Syed Mustafa Tanveer, DSP Hakim Khan, CIA police Inspector Abdul Ghafoor, Sub-Inspectors Tariq Rauf, Suleman Shah, ASIs Jaffer Ali, Shakeel Butt and Rana Tasneem.

He said the names of these officials would be forwarded to the IGP for special prizes.

The DIG said the police were committed to ensuring protection to the lives and property of the citizens and would continue efforts to curb crime.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020