LAHORE: Robbers made off with cash and valuables worth millions of rupees in 434 record hits in various parts of the provincial capital on Thursday.

A major robbery was committed at a home from where the criminals took away 80 tola gold ornaments and other valuables worth over Rs10.8 million in Harbanspura area. Two armed women dacoits were also among the gang of criminals who made a forced entry into the house of Mohammad Imtiaz at Fatehgarh, Harbanspura.

According to the first information report lodged by Imtiaz, he was preparing to leave his house to visit fruit market early at 3:15am when the gang of robbers, including the women, barged into his residence. He said the intruders held him hostage at gunpoint. He said the outlaws tied his arms, took him to the kitchen of his house where one of the woman robbers held him at gunpoint and the other held female members and children hostage.

They collected from the cupboards and other parts of the rooms gold ornaments weighing 80 tola besides cash and valuables.

All the criminals made off with the valuables, Imtiaz said.

Similarly, the robbers looted 13 other houses in various parts of the city from where they took away cash, gold ornaments and other valuables.

According to the sources, armed men deprived 25 citizens of their belongings at gunpoint at various parts of the city, and snatched mobile phones and cash from 45 others in street crime.

They said the criminals also took away 130 motorbikes, one car and three other vehicles.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2024