ISLAMABAD: Robbers and thieves looted cash and valuables from 25 different places of the capital while 50 cases of street crime were registered in Rawalpindi district, police said.

In the federal capital, four armed persons intercepted Luqman Khan in Banigala in front of his house and took him inside, the police said, adding that they also held his family hostage and then escaped with 32 tolas of gold ornaments, Rs1,375,000, a 12-bore gun and other valuables.

In another incident, five armed men raided the clinic of Dr Syed Salman in PWD and looted Rs52,000 cash and mobile phones from people present there, the police said.

Three people held M. Naveed Khan at gunpoint in Peshawar Mor and looted Rs100,000 cash, two gold bracelets worth Rs400,000 and other valuables.

Likewise, two gunmen stopped Shah Alam on I.J. Principal Road near Carriage Factory and snatched Rs80,000 cash while Aisha Alam was deprived of her mobile phone in F-8/4.

Besides, some burglars broke into the house of Ziaul Islam located near Zartaj Housing Society and stole valuables. Burglars also broke into a clinic in Bahria Town Phase 4 and escaped with Rs28,500 cash, a laptop and a mobile phone.

Similarly, thieves disguised as housemaids stole watches and imported items worth Rs600,000 from the house of Shahid Mehmood in G-10/3, the police said, adding that another person broke into the general store of Shafqat Rehman in H-13 and stole Rs100,000 cash.

A gang of five persons stole Rs100,000 cash from Rafaqat Mehmood in Pakistan Town after offering him and his father a lift, while thieves stole three laptops, two ATM cards and a purse from the car of Sami Amjad in I-8 Markaz. Similarly, thieves stole a mobile phone and a laptop from the office of Yasir Islam in PWD and a mobile phone from Danyal Hassan in F-6/1.

Robbers intercepted Gulshad Ali in Jhangi Syedan and beat him up and then escaped with Rs30,000 cash, two mobile phones and an ATM.

Meanwhile, vehicles were lifted from G-6, Nadir Town, G-7/1, Ghauri Town, Nainsukh, F-11 Markaz and Alipur.

Rawalpindi

Race Course police area was the worst hit as four burglaries were reported in the area.

Tanveer Akhtar Bhatti, a resident of Fazal Town, complained to Race Course police that he and his family had gone to Gujar Khan to attend a marriage function after locking the house. He said upon return, he found the locks of his house broken and Rs130,000, gold jewellery worth Rs150,000 and a laptop worth Rs50,000 stolen.

Azhara Shahzad, resident of Chamanabad, lodged a similar complaint with police saying that some burglars broke into her house and stole Rs15,000 and gold jewellery worth Rs210,000.

Ghulam Ghaus lodged an FIR with Civil Lines police saying that some burglars stole Rs95,000 after breaking a safe in his shop in Marrir Chowk.

Nazia Bibi from Gujar Khan was deprived of gold jewellery worth Rs600,000 after burglars broke into her house in her absence. Nadeem Ashiq was robbed of Rs70,000 in Saddar Bairooni area while Mohammad Rizwan was deprived of Rs5,000 and a mobile phone by two robbers.

Mohammad Noman, Qaim Din, Ahmad Hanif, Abdul Qadeer, Arslanul Haq and Ahmad Usman were among those who were deprived of their motorcycles.

Meanwhile, a gas cylinder filling shop was gutted due to cylinder explosion that happened during refilling of cylinders in Talhi Mori on Wednesday.

Rescue 1122 officials said the fire erupted when the refilling of gas cylinders was underway in the shop. Shortly after the fire erupted, fire fighters reached the spot and controlled the fire before it engulfed neighbouring shops. One of the adjacent shops was also affected due to the fire.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2022