rawalpindi - Personnel of police and bomb disposal squad (BDS) safely defused a mortar shell from a heap of garbage dumped near a public park in Lalkurti area, sources informed yesterday. Before removing the mortar shell, police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) closed the park for public as BDS examined 120mm shell that appeared to be an old one.

According to sources, a local person telephoned police after spotting the mortar shell in garbage dumped near the park. Following the information, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the scene and later BDS was also called in which recovered the mortar shell, sources said.

DSP Farhan Aslam, when contacted, confirmed recovery of the shell.

Meanwhile, there is no let-up in street crimes in Potohar Division of Rawalpindi as unknown robbers mugged the house of a captain in Pakistan Army by cutting locks of doors with a cutter at Afshan Colony while two dacoits also snatched cash and a mobile phone from a lawyer in Sher Zaman Colony.

Police lodged cases and started investigation with no arrest of recovery so far.

According to sources, Captain Sameena Kausar, who served in Armed Forces Nursing Services, told police that unknown robbers stormed into her house by cutting all the locks with a cutter and escaped with cash Rs 50,000, $600, a laptop, army uniform and other ranks and badges.

She asked police to register a case against the robbers and recover the stolen stuff. Police taking action lodged an FIR and started investigation.

On the other hand, Naeem Advocate told police station Civil Line officials that he was parking his car in his garage at 11:00pm when two unidentified dacoits riding on a motorcycle arrived and one of them pointed pistol at his head. Later, the dacoits snatched Rs 45,000 and a mobile phone from him and fled towards Lalazar. Police penned in the case and started searching the dacoits.