GUJRAT, Nov 5: Bandits burnt alive the guard of a United Bank Limited branch after plundering Rs700,000 in cash at Shadiwal in Saddar circle police precinct early Friday morning.

According to reports, some armed men entered the Shadiwal branch of the bank and roped guard Riasat Ali alias Shani of the same village. They collected Rs700,000 cash and set ablaze Shani and fled.

Police suspected that the guard might have recognized the dacoits, who had murdered him for fear of their identity. Preliminary investigation suggested that Shani took meals from a house nearby for keeping fast around 4am and the culprits entered the bank on his return.

Kunjah police handed over the body to the family after autopsy and registered a case. Later, the district police claimed that they had identified the culprits involved in the murder-cum-dacoity incident. A press release issued by the DPO office revealed that the police had identified the suspects and raids were being conducted for their arrest.

EXPATRIATE: An expatriate was deprived of cash and other valuables by some bandits on the Tanda Road near Bheelowal village on Thursday night. Reports said Ansar Mahmood was on his way home by a taxi when some armed men stopped the vehicle. They snatched 9,000 Riyals and other valuables from him at gunpoint and escaped. Tanda police have registered a case.

EXTORTION: Truckers and crew of other loading vehicles have expressed concern over what, they said, Eidee collection by an excise squad on the GT and Kharian-Dinga roads for the last five days.

The crew of loading vehicles told this correspondent on Friday that an excise team, led by inspector Amir Shahzad Gondal, had been collecting Rs500 for each vehicle for the last five days. Those who failed to grease their palms were harassed and deprived of vehicles despite showing documents.

The truckers and crew of other vehicles have demanded that the provincial excise secretary take punitive action against the officials involved in the malpractice.