KARACHI, May 5: A delay of no less than 90 minutes by police in responding to a distress call provide an ample opportunity to four robbers, including at least one policeman, to flee a house in Gulshan-i-Iqbal after depriving the inmates of cash and valuables on Sunday.

The victim family, however, dared to chase and catch the policeman who appeared to be a constable posted at Gulshan police station and member of the robbers’ gang. He was caught near the Nipa intersection and handed over to police.

The family told Dawn on Monday that the armed gang broke into the house, C-105, Block 4-A, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, early on Sunday and held the inmates hostage before collecting cash, jewellery and other valuables. Neighbours, residing in front of the house, sensed the danger and immediately dialled 15 to seek ‘Madadgar’ help at about 4.31am. The police did arrive at the scene but at least 90 minutes after being called. The delay enabled the robbers to make their escape good comfortably, a member of the victim family, Mr Amir, said.

The record of ‘Madadgar 15’, shows that the area police were informed on time and the duty officer, Azmat, of Gulshan police told the Madadgar 15 that there was no robbery. Amir said: “It was an attempt to mislead the Madadgar 15 as the robbery did take place and the FIR 220/03 in this respect was lodged.”

The police did not carry out any formality and returned to their police station. “We went to the police station soon after the robbery was committed and had to insist on lodging the case. However, we were not obliged and forced to submit an application about the incident. We again went to the police station and the SHO, Qaiser Ali Shah, advised us to come in the night to get an FIR registered.”

He said: “The FIR was registered at about 8pm on Sunday and only after we mobilized our contacts having some influence in the area. As I got the FIR registered, I saw my brother entering the police station with a policeman whom I recognized as a member of the same gang. My brother told us that he, with the help of his friends, had caught the robber cop at Nipa intersection. On our information, the police arrested the cop.

“Had they moved swiftly, the robbers might have been arrested red-handed.”

On their part, the Gulshan police said they acted upon the information provided by Madadgar 15 as soon as they got the message. They maintained that when they arrived at the house, the robbers had already fled to a school in Azeem Goth. The police chased them and searched the school, but the gang had managed to flee taking advantage of darkness. “We cooperated with the complainant and registered the case,” a police official claimed.