ISLAMABAD:Five people were killed and 68 others were injured and cash and valuables worth over Rs1 billion were looted or stolen in 2,282 criminal activities in the first quarter of the year 2024 in the federal capital.

Data collected from the police showed that in the three months of the year, 2,282 criminal activities, including dacoities, robberies, snatching, burglaries, thefts and auto-thefts were registered with the police.

Gold ornaments weighing 1,484 tolas, 154 vehicles, 911 motorcycles, 1,068 mobile phones and other articles, including electronic, household items worth Rs575,961,715 were either looted, snatched or stolen. The value of the 1484 tola gold was about Rs358,534,400 at the rate of Rs241,600 per tola.

There were 19 dacoities – nine at houses, seven at shops and two in streets - in which a man was murdered and four other persons were injured. In these incidents, the armed men looted 58 tola gold, 31 mobile phones and cash and valuables worth Rs27,517,520.

The police registered 497 robbery cases including 32 at houses and 55 at commercial centres in which four persons were murdered and 53 were injured. Out of the total, five robberies were committed after kidnapping the victims, two committed by criminals disguised as officials while one robbery was committed by police officials in Industrial Area.

In these criminal activities, the robbers looted 121.5 tola gold, six vehicles, 129 motorcycles, 541 mobiles along with cash and other articles worth Rs82,899,968.

The police also registered 247 snatching cases in which 11 victims were injured. Out of the total, two incidents took place at houses, one at commercial centres and 204 in streets while eight were committed after kidnapping the victims and 22 in the disguise of officials. In these incidents, the culprits snatched, 91.5 tola gold, six vehicles, 13 motorcycles, 210 mobile phones along with cash and other articles wroth Rs156,331,693, the data said.

The police also registered 180 cases of burglaries - 146 at houses and 34 at commercial centres – in which culprits looted 449 tola gold, a vehicle, eight motorcycles, 108 mobiles along with cash and other articles worth Rs99,557,164.

Moreover, 447 thefts, including 117 at houses, 58 at commercial centres and 194 in streets, were also committed in which 764.6 tola gold, three vehicles, seven motorcycles and 178 mobiles along with cash and other articles worth Rs182,829,640 were stolen. The police also registered 138 cases of vehicle and 754 cases of motorcycle theft.

Out of the 2,282 cases, the City Zone police registered 579 including a dacoity, 73 robberies, 82 snatchings,15 burglaries, 111 thefts, 57 vehicle thefts and 240 motorcycle thefts. The Saddar Zone registered 523 cases including seven dacoties, 138 robberies, 54 snatchings, 43 burglaries, 113 thefts, 30 vehicle thefts and 138 motorcycle thefts.

Likewise, the Industrial Area Zone registered 417 cases that included 113 robberies, 55 snatchings, 19 burglaries, 73 thefts, 28 vehicle thefts and 129 motorcycle thefts. The Soan Zone police registered 456 incidents, nine dacoities, 111 robberies, 43 snatching, 49 burglaries, 87 thefts, 13 vehicle thefts, and 144 motorcycle thefts. The Rural Zone registered 307 criminal activities, two dacoities, 62 robberies, 13 snatchings, 54 burglaries, 63 thefts, 10 vehicle thefts and 103 motorcycle thefts.

When contacted, a police spokesman said investigations in all these cases were underway for recovery of looted valuables and cash and taking action against the criminals.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2024