TOBA TEK SINGH, Feb 11: City police claim to have arrested five dacoits who had looted Rs2 million from a Saddar Bazaar currency exchange shop on Nov 3, 2001.

District police chief Amer Zulfiqar Khan said this in a press conference in the presence of district Nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ashfaq.

He said the police had also recovered Rs1 million from the custody of Shahnawaz of Pindi Bhattian, Zafar Iqbal Zafri of Sheikhupura, Muhammad Bakhsh alias Moula of Kharian, Nusrat Bibi and Azra Perveen (sisters) of Muridke. Their two accomplices — Muhammad Javed alias Boodi and Javed Iqbal alias Billu of Muridke had already been killed in an encounter with Lahore police a few months ago, he said.

The SP said that their three remaining accomplices — Muhammad Anwar, Muhammad Yousaf and Muhammad Iqbal were still at large and police were conducting raids for their arrest.

He further claimed that the remaining amount of Rs1 million would soon be recovered from the accused persons.

The owner of currency exchange shop, Muhammad Akmal, gave away a cash prize of Rs50,000 to the City police SHO.