Mastung — Unknown armed assailants looted millions of rupees after taking the bank staff hostage in Mastung on Tuesday.
According to police reports, six to eight armed men stormed the Allied Bank branch located in the Mastung Bazaar, held the employees at gunpoint, and fled after seizing approximately Rs. 1.56 million.
Following the robbery, the entire bazaar was shut down, while heavy contingents of police and security forces arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched a search operation to locate the culprits.
Authorities have noted a disturbing rise in bank robberies across Balochistan.
Just a few weeks earlier, armed men intercepted a cash van in Turbat carrying Rs. 220 million from two banks and made off with the entire amount.
Before that, a similar daylight robbery was reported in the Sorab area, where a major heist took place inside a bank.
The growing frequency of such crimes has instilled fear and insecurity among citizens, with increasing concerns that the looted funds may be used to finance terrorist or subversive activities with foreign backing.
Former members of banned organizations have openly admitted that militant groups are willing to go to any lengths to fund their violent objectives — including narcotics trade, illegal foreign currency dealings, and other forms of smuggling.
Law enforcement agencies have therefore been urged to act swiftly to curb this alarming crime surge and to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property across the province.
Balochistan, unfortunately, has been a target of criminal figures over the decades.
Law-and-order has been among the core issues of Balochistan and justice, in a larger extent, has not been served to the people.
On the other hand, criminals taken into law’s custody have not always been given the punishment in order to carry out justice and merit in the province.
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Policing and judiciary need to be strengthened in order to heel the wounds of Balochistan.
