Rawalpindi - A group of traffic wardens busted a gang of swindlers, which was involved in looting people on roads by giving them lift, and arrested two of its members here at Liaquat Bagh on Friday.
However, 7 female members of the swindling gang managed to escape from the scene. The traffic wardens later handed over the detainees to police for further investigation.
The two swindlers, who were netted by traffic wardens, were identified as Muhammad Zubair, the ring leader, and the driver Maqsood Khan, residents of Attock and Taxila respectively.
Talking to The Nation, the traffic warden Waheed said that he along with three of his colleagues Chaudhry Mudasir, Malik Ghafar and Waqas Shah was performing duty at Liquat Bagh when the heard on wireless that some robbers ran away after making a failed attempt of snatching purse from a lady namely Rabia, wife of Mirza Tariq, at Lalazar, within the limits of police station Civil Line.
He said that on this they intensified the vehicle checking and spotted a suspected Toyota Hiace (LXK-9512) and stopped it at Liaquat Bagh with two men and seven women on board.
Upon investigating and conducting search, he said, wardens found 25 empty purses and intoxicated stuff and clubs from the vehicle and took the driver and man sitting on rear sear into custody.
He said, however, 7 women ran away. Later, the swindlers were handed over to PS Civil Line duty officer Babar Raza for further action.
Sharing the details, the traffic warden said that the gang plied a hiace on roads and gave lifts to pedestrians. During the journey, the female members developed good relations with passengers and offered them some intoxicated stuff.
Then, the gang members snatched cash, mobile phone and other valuables from the passengers and fled by throwing the victims at some deserted places.
According to him, police locked them up behind the bars and filed a case against them. The further investigation was underway, he said.
SHO PS Civil Line and duty officer could not be approached for their comments. On the other hand, SSP/City Police Officer (CTO) Shohaib Khurram Janbaz has appreciated the bravery of traffic wardens.