RAWALPINDI, Nov 9: In what is believed to be one of the biggest jewellery shop burglaries in Rawalpindi district, gold ornaments weighing nearly 8kg and valuing Rs40 million were taken away by some burglars in Kallar Syedan on Eid day.

A five-member police team led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Kahuta Malik Irshad was constituted by the City Police Officer Azhar Hameed Khokhar to trace the culprits and recover the stolen jewellery.

Police said Sheikh Danish Liaquat, the owner of Shaukat Jewellery shop, locked his shop while leaving for home on Sunday night. On the following day (Eid day) he came to his shop to collect some cash as he had to go to the market to buy sacrificial animals. After collecting some cash from his shop, he again locked the doors and left for market.

Sheikh Danish Liaquat told Dawn that the incident came to light when the security guard of the market arrived there at about 9.30 pm on Eid day. He said he rushed to the shop and found the shutter pulled down but locks were broken.

“As I reached there, I found heavy jacks, used for heavy trailers, some cutters and pliers lying close to the shutter,” Sheikh Danish said.

He said that he had visited the shop early in the morning at around 7.30 am to get some cash but nothing was wrong at that time. It all happened after the sunset, he said adding as he entered the shop, he found the drawers upturned, emptied jewellery boxes and vaults.

He said the burglars only made off with gold ornaments weighing 7819 grams with an estimated value of Rs40 million.

After the burglary was reported to the local police, the Regional Police Officer, CPO, SSP Operation and other police officials arrived at the crime scene and recorded the statements of the victims.

Danish said: “My father and uncle have been helping the police team and they have provided all whereabouts of our shop employees but police have not been able to arrest any one of them.”—Staff Reporter