BAHAWALNAGAR: Within a short span of time, three armed motorcyclists took away hundreds of thousands of rupees in seven hits in Minchinabad on Saturday evening. The incidents included the robberies at four medical stores adjacent to the office of the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Minchinabad.

Within 30 to 40 minutes, three armed motorcyclists robbed five medical stores, a sweet shop and a food point, locals and police sources told Dawn.

In the area of three kilometers, from Madni Chowk in the centre of the city to the THQ Hospital, the motorcyclists brandishing weapons continued to rob the shopkeepers and citizens openly.

They managed to escape after robbing four medical stores adjacent to the DSP office.

It is to be mentioned here that half a dozen outlaws have been killed in several encounters by the district police over the past few weeks while more than a dozen have been injured or permanently disabled in the encounters. However, despite this move, a rapid increase in incidents of theft and robbery is being witnessed across the district.

A senior police official says it is impossible to control such cases unless the black sheep in the police department facilitating the robbers are held accountable.

In terms of violating law and orders, the situation in Mandi Sadiq Ganj and Haroonabad is reported to be more critical where videos of police officials partying with criminals, illegally entering the houses and misbehaving with families have gone viral.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023