LAHORE, Aug 16: The Crimes Investigation Agency (CIA) has arrested 27 members of three gangs involved in purchasing/selling vehicles on fictitious pay orders, car and motorcycle thefts and robberies and dacoities.

At a press conference, DIG Ali Aamer Malik, who was flanked by investigations SSP Abdul Razak Cheema, said the suspects admitted to committing 68 incidents in the provincial metropolis and 13 in Sheikhupura, Nankana and Multan districts.

The police seized from them eight cars and as many motorcycles, one pick-up, computers, LCDs, ACs and unlicenced weapons. The police also seized Rs2.1million in cash, files and registration books of vehicles and faked identity cards from their possession.

The DIG said members of Gawash Butt, Sajid, alias Saju Bhatti, and Mian Sarfraz gangs were arrested after hectic efforts spanning over a month. Of the 27 arrested suspects, nine accused were history-sheeters and two were proclaimed offenders, he added. DIG Malik said Gawash Butt and his four accomplices used to contact owners of vehicles, who advertised their vehicles for sale, to purchase the same through internet. They would then contact the owners and take away their vehicles and registration books by paying few thousands of rupees in cash and fictitious pay orders. They would use faked CNICs to sell the vehicles at showrooms.

FIRE: Valuables worth over Rs2.5 million were gutted when a fire broke out separately in a restaurant and a plastic factory, the Rescue-1122 said.

In the first incident, fire erupted in Sheikh Eawad’s ‘Kafe Alatoo’ on MM Alam Road because of a short circuit, gutting valuables worth Rs1.6 million.

A plastic factory owned by Muhammad Shafi on Bund Road near Motorway Bypass caught fire due to a short circuit, leaving valuables worth Rs900,000 burnt.

ROBBERIES: Robbers looted cash and jewellery worth Rs1.8 million from a family in Township police limits on Tuesday.

Two armed men stopped Shahid Mahmood, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, and his family near College Road and looted cash and gold ornaments.

Four robbers entered the house of Advocate Khalid in Harbanspura police limits and escaped after looting cash and valuables worth Rs800,000.

ACCIDENT: A six-year-old child was killed in a road accident on Bund Road in Sherakot on Tuesday.

The police said Sohaib was crossing the road along with his brother when a car hit him. He died instantly.