KARACHI: Over 1,500 cellphones snatched in 15 days
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 1: Bandits either snatched or stole more than 1,500 cellphones, and committed over 150 robberies during the past 15 days while the police claims to have eliminated 16 gangs of robbers in 31 police encounters besides recovering unlicensed weapons.
According to spokesman for the Capital City Police, the police performed effectively since the new city police chief, Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui, assumed charge on Nov 15.
He said the police had arrested 106 robbers, seven proclaimed offenders, and 31 absconding suspects. One sub-machine gun, two rifles, one repeater gun, 130 pistols, nine revolvers, one mouser gun, two grenades, and ammunition were recovered from suspects.
The spokesman said the mobile phone task force had arrested four suspects and recovered 91 stolen cellphones from their possession. However, police records shows that more than 1,500 people were deprived of their cellphones during the fortnight.
The recovery ratio appeared to be a mere six per cent.
Two people were killed and more than 10 others were wounded when they put up resistance to bandits in the snatching bid of cellphones.
Apart from cellphone snatching and theft incidents, bandits committed more than 150 robberies in houses, shops, petrol pumps and at other locations.
The police spokesman said that the Anti-Car Lifting Cell had recovered 74 cars and 88 motorcycles during the past fortnight. However, police records show that 156 cars and 243 motorcycles had been either snatched or stolen during the past 15 days. The recovery ratio of cars was 47 per cent while the ratio of motorbike recovery was 36 per cent.
Nine people were killed by unknown people at various places in the city while 16 people lost their lives, most of them due to the recklessly driven public transport vehicles.
