Haripur (Digital Post)— In the case of robbing a gold dealer in Abbottabad, absconding accused Imran alias Mani has been arrested

Haripur (Digital Post)— In the case of robbing a gold dealer in Abbottabad, absconding accused Imran alias Mani has been arrested by Cantonment Police. After the crime was proven in court, the Additional Sessions Judge had already sentenced the remaining accused, while Imran alias Mani had gone into hiding. When Lahore Police arrested him in another case, Cantonment Police transferred him from Lahore to Abbottabad.

In 2014, gold worth millions of rupees was looted from gold dealers in Abbottabad. In one incident, a gold dealer named Bilal son of Muhammad Inam, a resident of Korangi, Karachi, was robbed at gunpoint by two motorcyclists of two and a half kilograms of gold worth Rs. 10.5 million along with Rs. 2.5 million in cash. Some time after this incident, the same motorcyclists robbed another gold dealer, Javed, a resident of Multan, of 200 grams of gold and Rs. 400,000 in cash at gunpoint.

Cases regarding these robberies were registered at Cantonment Police Station under FIR No. 220 dated March 2015 under Sections 17(3) and 412 PPC. After these incidents, police conducted day-and-night covert investigations. Some time later, Imran alias Mani, who worked at a jeweler’s shop, purchased five vehicles worth Rs. 6 million. When police carried out secret inquiries, it was revealed that Imran alias Mani could not afford such expensive vehicles.

Subsequently, Imran alias Mani was arrested and interrogated, during which he confessed to all the crimes. He disclosed that he used to provide information about gold dealers to his two cousins, Muhammad Ayaz son of Muhammad Gulzar, resident of Sethi Masjid, and Tanveer Gul son of Aziz-ur-Rehman, resident of Al-Noor Chowk. Muhammad Ayaz and Tanveer Gul would then rob the gold dealers at gunpoint. Using the looted money, they purchased vehicles.

On the identification of the accused, police seized all the vehicles and motorcycles. Two 30-bore pistols were also recovered from the accused. A case was registered against them under Sections 17(3) Hirabah and 412 PPC. On the identification of Imran alias Mani, 310 grams of gold were recovered. In addition, 50 tolas of the looted gold were recovered from goldsmiths in Rawalpindi Saddar and Raja Bazaar.

After completing the challan, it was presented before the court. In July 2015, the Sessions Judge Abbottabad released all the arrested accused on bail. Some time after his release on bail, Imran alias Mani absconded.

After hearing the case and final arguments of the lawyers, the Additional Sessions Judge VI announced the verdict, sentencing Tanveer Gul and Aziz-ur-Rehman to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 200,000 each under Section 17(3), and 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100,000 each under Section 412 PPC. They were also sentenced under Section 15-AA for possession of illegal weapons.

The court had already issued permanent arrest warrants for the absconding accused Imran alias Mani son of Parvez, resident of Mirpur, for his involvement in the robbery. The accused remained a fugitive until Lahore Police arrested him in another case the previous day, after which Cantonment Police reached Lahore, arrested Imran Mani, and transferred him to Cantonment Police Station, Abbottabad.