TOBA TEK SINGH:Eight robbers allegedly held residents hostage and looted several houses in the Khoh Kalewala area of Jalilpur, in Abdul Hakim tehsil of Khanewal district, for around four hours late on Friday night.

The robbers reportedly took away valuables, including millions of rupees in cash, gold ornaments and other household items.

Reports said the suspects gathered men, women and children at one place, locked them in rooms and allegedly tortured them to obtain information about cash and jewellery kept in the houses. They also searched various rooms for valuables.

The affected families reportedly included those of Mukhtar Sahu, Muhammad Mansha Sahu, Safdar Sahu and Muhammad Afzal Sahu, as well as Amanullah Sahu, who had arrived from Multan as a guest.

The robbers also damaged Amanullah’s car and searched it for valuables.

When local residents rushed to the scene after learning about the incident, the suspects allegedly resorted to aerial firing. During the firing, a buffalo was killed and a bull was injured.

Kabirwala DSP Jamshed Bhatti, Station House Officer Muhammad Usman and CCD officer Zafar Goraya reached the scene.

DSP Jamshed Bhatti said several teams had been formed to arrest the suspects.

Sources said the robbers walked about half a kilometre after the incident before reaching a road, where they fled in their vehicles.

ARRESTED: Jaranwala Saddar police have arrested a suspected robber accused of killing a man and injuring his brother in January.

A police spokesperson said on Saturday that two brothers, Ashiq Hussain and Sakhawat Ali, were travelling on a motorcycle near Chak No. 96 GB in Jaranwala tehsil on Jan 2 when suspects Saqlain Abbas and his two accomplices intercepted them at gunpoint.

When the brothers resisted, the accused allegedly shot dead Sakhawat Ali and injured his brother, Ashiq Hussain.

During the investigation, police traced Saqlain Abbas through geofencing and arrested him. The suspect allegedly confessed to his involvement in the crime, and police recovered the pistol reportedly used in the murder from his possession.

Police are conducting raids to arrest his two alleged accomplices.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2026