In a manner of minutes, seven armed robbers made off with over half a million rupees from a bank in the Eidgah area on Tuesday.
CCTV footage, obtained by police, showed that the robbers riding motorcycles pulled up in front of the Ranchhor Line Branch of Summit Bank in Lakhpati Chowk at 9:11am.
Sensing something was amiss, a security guard of the bank put up resistance. The criminals, who were not wearing masks, overpowered the guard, thrashed him badly and injured him with a pistol before entering the bank. They then collected cash from the cash counter and escaped.
After being called in, police arrived and collected forensic samples for examination. They spoke to employees of the bank and learnt that the robbers had looted Rs540,000.
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) AD Khowaja took notice of the heist and directed Deputy Inspector General Azad Khan of South Range to submit a report on the incident. He also directed that an effective investigation be conducted and the culprits arrested.
Nine men held
The paramilitary force announced the arrests of nine suspects in raids conducted in different parts of the city.
The spokesman for the Sindh Rangers said raids were conducted in Gaddap, Korangi, Malir and Orangi Town, and three alleged criminals, two from a banned outfit and a robber, arrested. Illegal weapons and ammunition were said to have been seized as well.
During snap checking in Liaqatabad and Gulberg, paramilitary soldiers apprehended six suspects with weapons.
