RAWALPINDI, Sept 4: One of police’s most wanted criminals and his six accomplices escaped after a brief encounter with a police party which conducted a late night raid on his residence in Race Course police area on Monday.

However, a large quantity of chemical used for printing ‘fake currency’ notes and other valuables were recovered from his home.

Described by police as a “dangerous criminal” Malik Mohammad Arshad alias Arshad Langra (Lame), who was a proclaimed offender and court absconder, was involved in a number of robbery/swindling cases.

First a few policemen went to the house of Arshad Langra, but after he retaliated and opened fire, all of the policemen posted at Race Course police station along with women police raided his home.

But both police raids proved unproductive as none of the criminals could be captured.

“Arshad Langra had installed cameras and surveillance system in his home at different exits. First he invites a man whom he plans to target and then films his activities to blackmail him,” a police official said.

Following a complaint by Azhar Ali, who became the fresh victim of the gang and was robbed of Rs400,000 by Arshad Langra’s men in Mohallah Hajian, the police planned a swoop to arrest the criminal and recover the loot.

Azhar Ali, a local trader, told the police that he was in his shop when a man who gave his name as Mohammad Arshad came there and identified himself as a social worker. He said he was collecting funds to build a mosque in the area. He also told him that he himself had contributed a large sum of money to build the mosque.

Soon he developed friendly ties with Azhar and convinced him to contribute Rs400,000 for the mosque. As he and his cousin were on way to Arshad’s house to deliver the cash to him, he was intercepted by four persons at the corner of the street.

They held Azhar and his cousin at gunpoint and snatched the cash from them. Later they sped away in a car.

In line with the complaint, the police carried out raids at Arshad’s home but could not capture him.

Mohammad Ashraf, sub-inspector, who was leading the police raid, said a manhunt has been launched to arrest the most wanted criminal.

“No person, except a child was found in the house when the police went inside. All of the criminals escaped through secret exits, built in the basement of the house,” the investigating officer said and added: “They used 12 bore and 30 bore pistols to fire bullets on police raiding party, however, none of the policemen was hurt.”

Besides, a car used in the robbery yesterday, five motorbikes, and a large quantity of chemicals being used to print fake currency notes were also recovered by the police from the house.

According to the police, the leader of the gang of swindlers had been involved in more than 15 such swindling and robbery cases in which he had deprived many people of cash.