GUJRAT: At least 3,500 metres long high voltage cable worth around Rs4.5m was stolen by 14 unidentified suspects near the Machiwal area in the Daulat Nagar police precincts.

The armed suspects also resorted to firing at the staff of the contractor firm who tried to resist the theft; however, the staff remained unhurt and fled the scene.

Reports said a L ahore-based contractor firm had been laying the high transmission cable wire of 132kV from the Daulat Nagar Grid Station to Lalamusa city under the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) while some 80pc of the work had been completed.

Two days ago, at least 14 unidentified people were spotted cutting the newly-laid cable. Some staffers of the contractor reached the site and tried to stop the sus-pects from cutting the cable but the suspects opened fire at them. The suspects loaded 3,500 meters cable worth around Rs4.5m on a truck and fled.

Police registered the case on the report of Sohail Muneer, a contractor, and started investigation.

ROBBERY: Three robbers robbed a trader of Rs8.5m cash on Dinga Road, Kharian, on Wednesday.

Zaf ar Iqbal of Sialkot who ran his cement business on Qamar Sialvi Road in Gujrat city was going to recover his dues from the traders. As soon as he reached the Dinga Road in Kharian city, three robbers intercepted him on a motorcycle. The robbers snatched the bag carrying Rs8.5m cash from him and fled the scene.

Kharian Deputy Superintendent of Police Raja Zahid and Kharian Saddar Station House Officer Hasnaat Shah also reached the spot and gathered the details.

Kharian Saddar police registered a case against unidentified suspects.