Rs15 million hit by robbers

Published March 7, 2008

LAHORE, March 6: In what seems to be a Bollywood-style robbery, the outlaws first abducted two brothers and then looted cash and jewellery worth Rs15 million from their shop in Main Bazaar of Chungi Amar Sidhu in Factory Area on Thursday morning.

The criminals first kidnapped the brothers, the owners of Aslam Jewellers, from Bank Stop in Nishtar Colony when they were returning to their Kahna residence after closing shop late Wednesday, and later looted their shop on Thursday morning.

Anjuman-i-Tajiran, Chungi Amar Sidhu, president Meraj Khalid said six armed men abducted Afzal and his younger brother Arshad near Iqra Public School. They also drove away the car the brothers were traveling by.

He said the robbers kept the brothers at an unknown place and asked them to inform their family through a landline number that they would not be returning home because they were shifting a child to a hospital who sustained injuries when their car hit him accidentally. The kidnapped brothers did as they were asked to do by their abductors.

On Thursday morning at around 6am, two of the robbers took Afzal to his shop, directing him to introduce them as his close friends if some one inquired. The robbers entered the shop along with Afzal, collected Rs50,000 in cash and jewellery worth Rs15 million from the shop.

He said the robbers then threw both the brothers near J Block, Model Town, with their hands and legs tied. They also left their car alongside the road.

On knowing about the incident, the area traders immediately went on a day-long strike to protest against the incident.

They also protested against the Factory Area police for their inefficiency as third jewelry shop had been looted in the area during the last six months.

Nishtar Colony police registered a case.

Meanwhile, robbers looted a house in the jurisdiction of Shadbagh police on Thursday.

Three robbers stormed into the house of Farooq in Ahmad Park, Sharif Road, Bhagatpura, took the family hostage at gunpoint, looted Rs10,000, gold ornaments weighing 10 tolas and a cell phone and escaped.

Three robbers barged in the house of Shafqat Ali in Bhagatpura and took away Rs40,000 in cash, prize bonds worth Rs60,000, and gold jewellery.

Two motorcyclists snatched Rs500 and two cell phones from Qamar Zaman in Gulshan Iqbal area. As many robbers snatched Rs10,000 and a cell phone from Pervaiz Usman in Nishtar Colony.

An armed man stopped Muhammad Abbas in Rang Mahal area and deprived him of his motorcycle.

Two car riders snatched Rs4,000 and two cell phones from Farooq in the Civil Line area.

Opinion

Editorial

Lingering concerns
19 Sep, 2024

Lingering concerns

Embarrassed after failing to muster numbers during the high-stakes drama that played out all weekend, the govt will need time to regroup.
Pager explosions
Updated 19 Sep, 2024

Pager explosions

This dangerous brinkmanship is likely to drag the region — and the global economy — into a vortex of violence and instability.
Losing to China
19 Sep, 2024

Losing to China

AT a time when they should have stepped up, a sense of complacency seemed to have descended on the Pakistan hockey...
Parliament’s place
Updated 17 Sep, 2024

Parliament’s place

Efforts to restore parliament’s sanctity must rise above all political differences and legislative activities must be open to scrutiny and debate.
Afghan policy flux
Updated 18 Sep, 2024

Afghan policy flux

A fresh approach is needed, where Pakistan’s security is prioritised and decision taken to improve ties. Afghan Taliban also need to respond in kind.
HIV/AIDS outbreak
17 Sep, 2024

HIV/AIDS outbreak

MULTIPLE factors — the government’s inability to put its people first, a rickety health infrastructure, and...