SIALKOT: Local social, religious, business and political circles have expressed concern over the rise in robbery and theft incidents in the district.

Model Town Welfare Society residents have even displayed banners on the main roads in the areas, including Allama Iqbal Chowk, Paris Road, Kutchery Road, Kashmir Road and Model Town, to register their protest against the surge in heinous crimes.

Recently, Rs8 million robbery occurred in the house of exporter Mehar Arif in Model Town but police failed to trace the robbers.

Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President retired Maj Mansoor Ahmed said exporters had been robbed in eight major dacoity incidents in Sialkot during the last week. He said the traders were worried over the situation and urged the senior police officials to improve the patrol system and evolve a strategy to control crime rate.

Rights activists advocates Shahid Mir and Aliya Hina said travelling on motorcycle was unsafe across the district. They termed the situation critical and suggested a revamp of the police system.

Meanwhile, robbers deprived citizens of cash and valuables in six hits in the district on Thursday.

In Sambrial, three unidentified armed car riders snatched 14,000 riyals, mobile phones and other valuables from expat Muhammad Bashir near Lorry Adda.

Bashir landed at Sialkot airport from Saudi Arabia when the robbers looted him before he reached home.

In Daska city, two robbers snatched a motorcycle, cash and mobile phones at gunpoint from Muhammadpura-based trader Anas Javaid Cheema near the Nawaz Sharif Stadium.

Three dacoits looted Rs80,000 and mobile phones from poultry farmers Tahir Butt and Arsalan Gujjar near village Gaggarwali-Daska along Dharam Kot-Buddha Goraya Road.

In Daska city, robbers broke into the house of trader Muhammad Saeed at Chungi No 8 and decamped with gold ornaments, electronics, cash and other valuables.

Thieves took away a car of Faisal Javaid from outside his house in Daska city’s congested Tailiyaanwala Galla locality.

Two robbers took away a motorcycle, mobile phones and cash from industrial worker Tayyab Arif near Sahowala-Sambrial.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2016