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Criminals
on the prowl: Thugs
looting people in police uniform still at large
·
Overseas Pakistanis main
target of gang
* CPO discusses issue in crime review meeting, orders tracing of
criminals posing as policemen
By Imran Asghar
RAWALPINDI: Police have so far failed to trace a gang of thugs who
loot their victims, especially those coming from abroad, donning
police uniform.
The gang, active in the environs of Benazir Bhutto International
Airport, chases its victim as soon as it leaves the airport and
loots it at places safe from police or public intervention.
The gang also looted a Pakistani-American family in front of
Rawalpindi Medical College on Tipu Road in the limits of Waris Khan
Police Station Sunday morning.
Shazia, wife of Asim Malik, an American nationality holder, told
Daily Times that she and her three children were on their way to
their destination when three persons donning police uniform and
holding wireless sets in their hands intercepted them on Tipu Road
near Rawalpindi Medical College at around 04:45 am.
She said her cousin stopped the van when three policemen standing
near a car (IDN-1990) having a blue revolving light on the roof
signaled him to stop.
She said the three persons started searching their vehicle and one
of them took her handbag for checking that contained two passports
of her sons Sham Asim Malik and Mughera Asim Malik, 4,000 dollars
and 1,000 Durhams, eight-tola gold jewelry, credit cards and some
other valuables.
Shazia said that the incident left deep scars on the minds of her
children who insisted on going back to the US. Shazia said that she
had reported the case to the police station concerned.
A similar incident had occurred last week in the limits of New Town
Police Station when some highwaymen impersonating police looted an
old woman.
Zafreen, a resident of D-Block, Satellite Town, said that her family
members were bringing her mother-in-law from airport and when they
reached near Commercial Market three persons donning police uniform
signaled them to stop. She said during checking they took away 1,400
pounds and other valuables.
In another incident, two men were deprived of Rs 15,000 in cash and
two cellphones near Banni Police Station. Muhammad Ali and Waqas
Ahmed told Daily Times that they were riding a motorbike when two
police officials signaled them to stop and started their body
search. The two officials snatched Rs 8,000 from Ali and Rs 7,000
from Ahmed and two cellphones and escaped.
“It has become very difficult for the general public to tell the
police from criminals donning police uniform, they added.
A police spokesperson said that the City Police Officer (CPO) Rao
Muhammad Iqbal had discussed the issue in a recent crime review
meeting and directed all the field officers to trace the criminals
impersonating police. He expressed the hope that they would soon be
arrested.
Daily
Times:May
25,2009
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