LAHORE, Jan 6: Police claimed on Sunday that they had arrested killers of a money changer.

On Dec 6, 2001, seven dacoits robbed money changer Omar Iqbal of Rs.7 million and killed him on the spot. His two employees, however, escaped unhurt.

Speaking at a press conference at the District Police Lines, Lahore SSP Aftab Cheema claimed the dacoits lost Rs1.7 million of the total amount while making their escape. From the rest of the amount, only Rs4 million were so far recovered from the dacoits.

About the arrests, he said they followed a tip-off and took into custody Riaz Virk of Sheikhupura who had a record in this type of dacoity incidents. During interrogation, Riaz disclosed the name of a servant of the deceased money changer. When they tried to arrest servant Khadim Husain, Omar Iqbal’s family instead of cooperating with the police sent him to Sahiwal. On the basis of information gathered from independent sources, his place in Sahiwal was raided and he was taken into custody. He led the police to the other members of the gang.

Before the Yakki Gate robbery, Virk and company had involvement in two other robbery incidents that took place during the last two years. In all the three robberies, Khadim was an informer. Khadim was hired by Rasheed, a poultry dealer and a neighbour of the deceased Omar Iqbal. Rasheed worked for Riaz Virk. They had four other accomplices who were identified as Asghar, Ghazanfar, Nazir and Saifullah.

Besides committing robberies, they had killed a security guard and injured several other people. Further investigation was under way.

The SSP said that weapons and bullets recovered from the gang had been sent to the forensic laboratory.