960414

Alleged looters of

UBL lockers produced

before newsmen

HAFEEZ SHEIKH

HYDERABAD: The district administration of Hyderabad on Sunday produced all alleged looters of 41 UBL lockers in Shahi Bazar Branch before the newsmen at a press conference addressed by SSP Hyderabad, Saleem Akhtar Siddiqui in his office, where the gangsters held MQM leadership of Hyderabad responsible of looting the bank property.

Seven members of the gang of Sharif alias Kaliya were brought to SSP office Hyderabad, guarded by a heavy contingent of police where three gang leaders, Sharif alias Kaliya, Abdul Wahab Ansari and Khalid Kazmi who had held complete control over Chotki Ghitti, Sathi Para, Khata Chowk and its adjacent areas were produced before the newsmen at a news conference.

Except for Khalid Kazmi, who was speaking as if he was reading from a scrip, the remaining two replied the questions of the newsmen very reluctantly and in such a manner which created doubts in the minds of newsmen.

When questioned about their arrest, they said "we were arrested on Saturday - Sunday night at 2 a.m. from Sathi Para".

About the looting of bank lockers, Wahab Ansari said that they had never looted the bank lockers as they were already broken by an angry mob comprising 20 to 25 armed men who came from MQM Zonal Office Hyderabad, but, admitted that the remaining valuables were taken away by them.

They said that although the looters faces were covered with "falastini roomals", they were able to identify Shakeel Boxer, a MQM diehard, Shahid Ajmeri alias police Abba, Shakeel Zai, a local frontline MQM leader (he had been arrested by police and was confined in central prison Hyderabad) and others.

They accused Dr. Majid, the Sector Incharge APMSO, Hyderabad of inciting them to violence, robberies and extorting forced donations (bhatta) from members of business community.

They said that they had collected lakhs of rupees on the orders of Dr. Majid, who, according to them told them to collect the money for the payment of some expenses including fax and telephone bills in London.

They said that only Dr. Majid was in constant touch with London and every message was conveyed to them through Dr. Majid. They also charged that they were given arms and ammunition by Dr. Majid and Mohammad Sharif, the former members MQM Zonal Committee Hyderabad who has also been arrested by police.

The alleged criminals said that they were prepared to give statement in the court of law against Mohammad Sharif, Dr. Majid and MQM self exiled chief, Altaf Hussain.

They confessed that they had sold out looted gold to two gold smiths namely Abdul Jabbar Ansari and Ahmad Sunnara. Three Kalashnikovs, four TT pistols, some rounds, prize bonds of Rs. 3,72,000,two and half k. g. of gold and jewellery and Rs. 10,36,000 cash were recovered from their possession.

Addressing the news conference, the SSP Hyderabad said that there were different groups who had extorted money from the traders and had fought pitched battles with the law enforcers resulting in the death of rangers sepoy Mohammad Boota in Khata Chowk area.

He said that the chapter of terrorism had been brought to an end in this city, adding that the Hyderabad police was fighting on two fronts, against dacoits and terrorists.

He claimed that so far Hyderabad police has killed 15 dacoits including notorious dacoit Majeed Dhamach, who carried head money of Rs. 1.2 million. He admitted that some misunderstanding was created when a dacoit was killed and a police constable who was the relative of Majeed Dhamach identified him as Majeed Dhamach in order to save the real Majeed Dhamach. He, however, said that now the real Majeed Dhamach had been killed by police.

He categorically denied any fake encounter. Referring to the killing of Ghaffar Chandio near Bhittai, he said some 500 people of Hala took part in his operation and Ghaffar Chandio was wanted by police in several cases.

About the looted bank property which the SSP showed to newsmen on a table, he said that a magistrate would be called who will return the looted property among the affected parties.