HUB, April 21: On average, six motorbikes and three four-wheelers hijacked or stolen in Karachi are taken into Balochistan daily, it was learnt here on Saturday.
The vehicles hijacked in Karachi, after being kept at some hideouts for some time, are sold to parties who send them to Punjab, Balochistan and other areas of Sindh through different routes in alleged connivance with police, sources said.
During 2002, at least 1,714 motorbikes and 1,136 other vehicles were taken away or stolen in Karachi and about half of them have allegedly been shifted to Balochistan, they said.
In Balochistan, the vehicles are allegedly hidden in orchards of Sakran and houses of influential persons. Later they are sold.
According to sources, at least seven gangs are active in the trade of stolen vehicles and their transportation between Karachi and Balochistan. The gangs also reportedly keep contact with each. The sources claimed that some influential people and law enforcement agencies’ officials are also involved in the trade.
The vehicles are taken into Balochistan through the areas falling in Sakran, Hub and Gadani police stations’ jurisdiction from the limits of Mochko, Manghopir, Maripur and Gadap police stations.
Sources said that during January 557 motorbikes and 329 four-wheelers were hijacked in Karachi. The law enforcement agencies have claimed to have recovered 141 motorbikes and 145 four-wheelers, but about half of the missing vehicles are believed to have been taken into Balochistan. During February, 475 motorbikes and 310 four-wheelers were stolen and 124 motorbikes and 124 four-wheel vehicles were recovered. In March, the figure of hijacked vehicles was 425 bikes and 289 four-wheelers while the law enforcement agencies recovered 95 bikes and 137 four-wheelers.
During the current month, 257 motorbikes and 208 four-wheelers were hijacked and 49 motorbikes and 95 four-wheelers have been recovered, the sources said.
Sources alleged that the deals of vehicles stolen in Karachi are often carried out at Hub be the representatives of the gangs involved in carjacking.
In different areas of Balochistan, Honda 125cc motorbikes are sold for Rs20,000, Yamaha 100 at Rs15,000 to Rs18,000 and Honda CD-70 for Rs12,000 to Rs15,000, sources said.
Bela, Hub, Awaran, Kharan and Khuzdar are the main markets of motorbikes while Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar, Mastung and adjacent areas are said to be the main markets of four-wheelers.
The sources alleged that a large amount was paid to the law enforcement officials for their cooperation. An order had reportedly been passed earlier that a police official would not be appointed in Lasbela district but he has been appointed Sakran SHO, sources alleged.
When asked about the recovery stolen vehicles, Lasbela District Police Officer Arbab Gul Nawaz Kasi said five motorbikes, three cars and a jeep, hijacked from Karachi, were recovered in the current year.