KARACHI: The Surjani police claimed to have busted an interprovincial gang allegedly involved in over dozens of house robberies since 2002 by impersonating police and intelligence agencies’ officials, according to West SSP Mahzor Ali.

“The suspects were planning a robbery on Northern Bypass but the police, under a well-planned strategy nabbed five of them; a sixth one, however, managed to flee,” said the senior officer.

The five held suspects were identified as Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Ismail, Mohammed Sikander, Habib Rehman alias Osama and Kabir Karim. The fleeing suspect was identified as Mohammed Yunus alias Lalu.

“They belong to the interprovincial gang known as the ‘Bengali-Burmi gang’,” said the officer, adding that they were affiliated with two other gangs, one led by Husain alias Bengali and the other by Alam Bengali.

Their masterminds, Abdul Hafeez and Abul Hasan, had been shot dead in an encounter in Orangi Town some time back, he said.

“Impersonating officials of police and intelligence agencies, members of the gang used to enter homes at around 3am, overpower the residents and truss them up. The intruders would then collect and take away cash and valuables,” the SSP said citing common modus operandi of the criminal cases registered against them. He said there were also complaints against them of molestation on their part during the robberies, he added.

The ‘Bengali-Burmi gang’ had been active since 2002; murders committed during trespass and disputes with fellows; robbery in home of Gen Musharraf’s sister also attributed to same gang

“They have made startling disclosures during interrogation,” according to the police.

Links in jail and courts

The gang members had remained in touch with each other in different jails and City Courts, the police said, adding that they used to meet mainly at two places – Sindh Government Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town and Sindh Government Hospital in Korangi-5 – at around 1am to set the time and place for next robbery. They travelled to the decided place by motorcycles and rickshaws wearing face masks or handkerchiefs.

After committing each robbery, they avoided meeting with each other for the next 15-20 days and at the next gathering, each one would receive his share in the looted cash and mobile phones. The looted gold ornaments used to be kept by their mastermind pair, Abdul Hafeez and Abul Hasan, who would later sell the articles and distribute the cash among the gang members. Both of them were killed in a very recent encounter. The police said that the gang members resided in Bengalis-dominated localities.

Murders of people and fellows

The police said the gang had killed a number of people during robberies. “Five members of this gang -- Abdul Hafeez Burmi, Abul Hasan Burmi, Shakoor Grenade Burmi, Lamba Peepa Burmi and Shakoor alias Burmavi -- were shot dead in police encounters in different areas while three other members -- Dilbashar Burmi, Ilyas Saudi Burmi and Saeedul Bashar -- were killed by their fellow gang members apparently in dispute over distribution of booty or for being police informers,” they said.

Two other members, Manaf alias Manan and Alam Bengali, had fled to Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, respectively, they added.

Robbery at home of Gen Musharraf’s sister

“Members of the same gang had committed a robbery at the home of the sister of former president General Pervez Musharraf in 2002,” according to the police.

There were at least 32 FIRs registered against the arrested suspects at different police stations in the metropolis, they said.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2023