ISLAMABAD: Robbers struck in 10 places within an hour in three sectors of the capital and continued robbing citizens even after arrival of the senior superintendent of police (operations) and the superintendent of police Industrial Area in the area on Monday night.

Officers of the police told Dawn that 10 incidents of robberies took place in the limits of the Industrial Area, Sabzi Mandi and Shams Colony police stations.

But so far cases have not been registered against the culprits.

They said six armed men riding three motorcycles robbed 10 citizens between 8:30pm and 9:30pm in I-10, I-9 and I-11.

Two of the robbers snatched mobile phones and cash from people while the others guarded them by taking position at different points of streets.

SSP says it is unfortunate that four robberies took place in just 20 minutes in I-10

A police contingent, including scores of patrolling teams, under the supervision of SSP Operations Mohammad Faisal and SP Industrial Area Saud Khan reached the area of Sabzi Mandi after the gang committed the second robbery, the officers said.

The police cordoned off the area and established blockades at different points to arrest the robbers.

The police also chased the armed men but the robbers carried out eight more robberies in the meantime.

At one stage, the robbers and SP Saud Khan came very close to each other.

But before the SP and his team intercepted them, the robbers sped away in their motorcycles.

The officers said the armed men remained in the area till 10pm.

When contacted, SSP Mohammad Faisal said it was very unfortunate that armed men committed four robberies in a short span of 20 minutes in I-10. He said seven robbery incidents took place in I-10 and nearby areas within 24 hours.

“After getting information, I personally reached there and put blockades at different points to arrest the robbers. But we got no success even though at one stage the robbers appeared in front of SP Saud Khan.”

He said the police continued following them but the robbers kept changing their locations. They were on bikes and once they were traced in I-10 but after a few minutes their presence was detected in I-9, he added.

Police teams checked each and every motorcycle rider in these areas but the robbers disappeared as these areas have lots of streets, the SSP said.

Over non-registration of the FIRs, the SSP said according to the standard operating procedure (SOP), an FIR should be registered within eight hours after receiving the complaint. Sometimes the robbery victim does not approach police for registration of a case on time, he maintained.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022