FAISALABAD, Dec 14: The Gulberg police have introduced a novel method to arrest the increasing incidents of cash snatching by rounding up the people carrying huge amounts and locking them in the police station.

On the instructions of the Gulberg SHO, some 12 employees of different offices and industrial units who were carrying money with them were intercepted and physically searched on Liaquat Road, Gulberg, Jinnah Colony, Gurunankpura Road and adjoining areas.

A police team, headed by the Gulberg SHO, intercepted many people at the Chiniot Bazaar Intersection and Liaquat Road where a number of bank branches are situated. The policemen not only harassed the people carrying cash, but also questioned them unlawfully. The people with cash were forced to stay on road for two to three hours and asked to provide a proof about their cash.

A police team intercepted Shahid, the cashier of a textile group, when he was on his way after withdrawing Rs800,000 from a bank. The police took him to the police station claiming that he had no proof about cash. After five hours, the officers of the textile group got him released.

Some youngsters working for different yarn dealers and cloth merchants said they were also intercepted by the Gulberg police when they left banks early in the morning. However, the policemen received Rs200 to Rs500 from them as "security fee" and 'advised' them not to visit banks without guards.

The SHO confirmed the detention of the textile group cashier, adding that he had no proper security cover for his cash. He said nobody would be allowed to take cash without proper security.

Local traders have declared such a step on the part of the Gulberg police as unjustified, adding it was impossible for them and even big industrialists to arrange a chain of guards for their cash transactions. They said this nasty practice on the part of police should be stopped, and action be taken against the SHO for adopting an ill-conceived and unrealistic plan.

A senior lawyer, Abdul Majeed, said there was no provision in the PPC and the Police Order 2002 about keeping guards and full security cover before leaving the banks with huge amounts.