ATTOCK, Jan 27: Three armed robbers on Tuesday took away over Rs600,000 from Habib Bank’s Basia village branch in jurisdiction of Rangu Police station.

They entered the branch at 12.30 pm and held the staff and guard on gunpoint, besides snatching weapons from them and made off with Rs650,000.

On the information, sub-divisional Police officer (SDPO) Hazro Police circle DSP Syed Akbar Abbass reached the crime scene along with other police officials and started investigations.

The district police officer Fakhar Sultan Raja held the bank management partially responsible for the robbery incident.

According to him the bank management had put a single guard inside the bank instead of outside while no security picket was constructed inside the bank as per security’s standing operating procedure (SOP) despite repeated instructions and reminders. Even the security alarm was not rung by the bank staff, he said.

However hectic efforts are being made for the arrest of the robbers, he said.

Meanwhile, three robbers entered a local medical store at busiest Imambarah road and snatched Rs7400 from owner on Monday.

However, the owner raised alarm and put some resistance to the robbers, when they were trying to enter.

About 30 minutes before this incident, three armed persons stanched Rs10,000 from a local resident in the same locality after injuring him on his resistance. He was rushed to the district headquarter hospital Attock.

THEFT: Jamshid Ali of Muhallah Kashmiri reported to Attock city police station that some burglars took away Rs240,000, TV and other valuables after breaking the locks of his house.

Social figures of the area expressed great concern over the rising incidents of robbery and theft causing a sense of insecurity among the residents.

They asked the district police officer to improve the performance of the city police and ensure protection to the life and property of the citizens.