SWAT: The residents of Kalam here on Monday demanded of police to trace and arrest the auto thieves, who had stolen five motorbikes in the area.

They said that the motorbike lifter gang had been active in the area for the last few months but police failed to bust the gang.

“The gang stole a motorbike from outside a tailor shop in broad daylight. It is the fifth incident of its kind in Kalam,” said Hayat Mohammad, a resident of Kalam.

Mohammad Karim, a physically challenged tailor in Kalam bazaar, told journalists that his motorcycle was stolen from outside his shop in broad daylight. “I visited police station and also named two persons, but police ignored my complaint,” he alleged. The residents of Kalam said that increase in motorbike thefts caused insecurity and concerns among them.

They demanded of Swat DPO and Malakand DIG to take immediate notice of the matter and order police to arrest the gang. Kalam SHO Iqbal Nasim, when contacted, said that no motorbike was stolen in the valley.

“There is a dispute between two persons on the deal of motorbike which will soon be resolved,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, police on Monday claimed to have arrested four robbers and recovered a gold necklace from their possession.

A woman had lodged a complaint with Kabal police that she was waiting on roadside for public transport to go her home when a car stopped near her.

She added that four persons including a woman and a young boy travelling in the car gave her lift.

She said that the boy in the car snatched her necklace when she was getting out of the car after reaching Ningolai area. Police cordoned off the area and arrested the four persons. Police recovered the gold necklace from the woman.

Police said that the arrested persons belonged to Peshawar and Nowshera. A case was registered at Kanju police station against them.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021