Robbers steal mobile phones from four Baldia shops

Robbers took away 70 to 80 costly cellphones from four shops in Baldia Town’s Rasheedabad area during wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Baldia Town Police Station’s SHO Chaudhry Aslam told The News that robbers arrived at a market of mobile phones and accessories and took away 70 to 80 cellphones by breaking open the locks of four shops with an electronic cutter.

He said a police team attended the scene and registered an FIR on a complaint of a shop owner, Muhammad Azam, son of Muhammad Younus. SITE Town Division SP Asif Ahmed Bughio, who is also holding charge of Baldia Town Division SP, told The News that police had got footage of the crime.

He said the suspects were identifiable, and expressed the hope that they would be arrested soon. Replying to a question, SP Bughio said the market committee did not hire private guards for security, and he had requested it to hire guards for surveillance during the night.

Later, the shop owners of the market staged a protest demonstration outside the market, and blocked roads by burning tyres. The shop owners chanted slogans against the provincial police department and demanded of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take notice of the incident and ensure security for them.

Taking notice of the protest, Sindh Inspector General of Police AD Khowaja sought an inquiry report from the West Zone’s deputy inspector general of police. He directed the District West SSP to tell the Baldia Town SP to hold a meeting with shopkeepers, and take the market committee into confidence about devising a security plan for the market.