Armed robbers looted gold worth over Rs30 million, Rs2 million in cash and a mobile phone from four jewellery shops near Jauhar Chowrangi in Karachi, police said. An FIR has been registered under PPC Sections 397 and 34.

KARACHI: Armed robbers looted gold ornaments, cash, a mobile phone and other valuables from four jewellery shops near Jauhar Chowrangi in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, police said on Tuesday.

According to Sharea Faisal SHO Imtiaz Husain Shah, the incident took place on Monday evening. He said police later registered an FIR on the complaint of Aijaz Husain, one of the victims and president of the jewellery shops association in the area.

The case was registered under Sections 397 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Section 397 relates to robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt, while Section 34 concerns common intention.

Sequence of the robbery

In his complaint, Aijaz Husain stated that he owns jewellery shops at Jauhar Chowrangi and also serves as president of the Sunar Market there. He said that on May 18, he had gone to offer Maghrib prayers when four armed men arrived at the shop of his son, Laraib, which was closed at the time.

According to the FIR, the suspects broke open the doors of Laraib’s shop and took away gold ornaments worth Rs21.9 million along with Rs2 million in cash.

The same four men then entered another jewellery shop at gunpoint and snatched gold jewellery worth Rs3 million to Rs4 million from its owner, Aziz Ahmed, according to the complaint.

After that, the robbers went into a third shop owned by Sharjeel, where they took an iPhone from the shopkeeper, police said.

The suspects then moved to a fourth jewellery shop owned by Hameed, where employee Jamil was present. At gunpoint, they took away gold worth Rs7 million, according to the police account based on the complaint.

Firing during escape

Police said that while fleeing the market, the robbers opened fire. As a result, the glass of Laraib’s shop was shattered. Investigators said one of the suspects appeared to have been injured during the escape, as blood stains were found at the scene.

Crime scene police collected blood samples from the spot. Police also recovered three spent bullet casings during the initial examination of the area.

Based on the figures cited in the complaint, the value of the looted gold exceeded Rs30 million, while the cash taken amounted to Rs2 million. In addition to the jewellery and cash, a mobile phone was also snatched from one of the affected shopkeepers.

Police said the FIR was lodged after the incident and the case was being pursued on the basis of the complaint submitted by Aijaz Husain.