By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: Police claimed to have arrested three members of a notorious dacoit gang, including its ringleader, in a major operation and recovered 76 stolen solar panels, a Rikshwa loader in Bara Tehsil in district Khyber, motorcycles, weapons and Rs420,000 in cash, police said on Saturday.
District Police Officer (DPO) Khyber Rai Mazhar Iqbal had taken notice of increasing incidents of solar panel and motorcycle theft in Bara’s Shalobar and adjoining areas. He tasked DSP Bara Circle Sawalzar Khan to trace and arrest the culprits.
Acting on the directives, a police team led by SHO Javed Khan carried out raids and arrested the gang leader, identified as Qadeer, a resident of Shalobar. A pistol and a motorcycle were recovered from his possession.
On his identification, police conducted further raids in different areas and recovered a large cache of stolen goods. From the houses of Qadeer and Hukum, police seized 32 solar panels and Rs350,000 in cash. Another six solar panels and Rs70,000 were recovered from Yaseen’s house, 20 solar panels from the houses of Shakeel and Shehzad and eight solar panels along with a Qingqi loader from Aarat’s house. Police also recovered 10 solar panels from the shop of a dealer named Wajahat.
In total, police seized 76 solar panels, a loader, two motorcycles, one Kalashnikov rifle and two pistols during the operation.
DSP Sawalzar Khan said all recovered items and weapons had been taken into custody and FIRs had been registered. He added that special teams were formed to arrest the remaining suspects while further investigation was in progress.
DPO Rai Mazhar Iqbal praised the successful operation and lauded the police team, stating that action against criminal elements would continue with full force. He said the police were committed to ensuring the safety and protection of citizens’ lives and property.
