February 28, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 29, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, Feb 27: Six robbers looted Rs725,000 from Habib Bank Rehmanabad branch after taking its employees and customers hostage here on Monday and escaped, police said.

In another case of robbery, some robbers looted Rs871,000, jewellery and a car from different areas of the city in the last 24 hours.

Assistant Vice President HBL Rehmanabad branch Mian Nazir complained to the police that six persons entered the bank in the guise of customers at about 9.20 am on Monday and overpowered the two security guards.

After this, they held the bank employees and customers at gunpoint and forced the cashier to hand them over the keys of the safe.

The robbers looted Rs400,000 from the safe and Rs325,000 from the cash box and before escaping they locked the gate from outside and put the looted cash in two cars.

According to the bank staff, the pictures of the robbers had been recorded by the bank’s security cameras.

Shortly after the incident, police were called in, which after questioning some bank employees advised the bank management to strengthen security on their own and file an application with the police station.

When this correspondent contacted a senior official of the bank, he said that they had a complete film of the robbery that could help the police arrest the culprits, however, police did not demand the film.

Robbers had also struck at Habib Bank Choor branch on October 16 last year looting millions of rupees. Similarly, robbers had also looted Rs1,48,000 from Habib Bank Kamalabad branch on February 2.

Meanwhile, three robberies were committed in different parts of the city on Sunday.