Scene 1 — The Bank's Security Room
The next morning, the air in the Model Town Bank was tense and heavy with silence. Yellow police tape still marked the entrance, and armed constables guarded the door. Inside, a small, dimly lit security room was crowded with officers.
A large screen played back the CCTV footage from the robbery. The faint hum of the system filled the silence as the officers leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen.
DSP Haroon stood at the back, arms folded, his sharp gaze scanning every second of the recording. Beside him, Inspector Haseeb, known for his detail-oriented mind, took notes on a pad.
"Rewind that part," Haroon commanded.
The security technician clicked, dragging the footage back a few minutes. The video replayed — four masked men rushing into the bank, waving pistols, shouting orders, forcing staff and customers to the floor.
Then came the pivotal moment: a middle-aged man, a regular customer, tried to resist. He lunged at one robber, grabbing his wrist. Gunshots echoed in the small room as the footage captured the man being shot.
But in that desperate struggle, something critical happened — the victim's hand ripped away the masks of three robbers. Their faces flashed clear for a few seconds before the chaos resumed.
"Freeze it!" Haroon barked.
The technician paused the footage. Three faces stared back at them from the frozen frame — tense, furious, and exposed.
Haseeb leaned closer. "SubhanAllah… we've got them. Their arrogance has betrayed them."
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Scene 2 — Extracting the Faces
Haseeb turned quickly to the technician.
"Zoom in. Sharpen the image. I need clear shots of each face."
The technician adjusted the system, isolating the first robber's face. He clicked, printing the image. Then the second. Then the third.
Within minutes, three photographs lay on the table under the cold light:
A sharp-jawed man with piercing eyes.
A heavy-set man with a rough beard.
A lean figure with long hair tied back.
Haseeb picked them up carefully, as though they were precious evidence.
"Get these copies secured," he instructed. "We'll forward them immediately."
Haroon's eyes never left the pictures. His voice was firm, carrying the weight of his years in service.
"These men thought they could vanish. But no mask hides forever. Now, we'll know who they are."
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Scene 3 — The Call to NADRA
Back at headquarters, Haseeb dialed the NADRA identification desk. His tone was brisk and professional.
"Assalamualaikum, this is Inspector Haseeb from Lahore Police. I need urgent identity confirmation on three suspects involved in yesterday's bank robbery."
The NADRA officer replied, "Walaikum Assalam. Please send us the images through our secure channel."
Within minutes, the photographs were uploaded. Haseeb leaned back in his chair, glancing at Haroon.
"Now we wait."
Haroon nodded slowly, his gaze on the wall clock. "If they're in the system, we'll know soon."
The room was silent except for the ticking clock. Constables shuffled papers nervously, sipping cold tea, glancing at the frozen faces on the wall-mounted screen.
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Scene 4 — The Callback
After almost an hour, Haseeb's phone rang sharply. Everyone straightened.
He answered quickly, "Yes, Haseeb here."
The NADRA official's voice was calm but firm.
"We've identified your suspects. Cross-checking with our criminal database confirms their names."
"Tell me," Haseeb pressed, pen poised.
"The first is Vijay Shankar — age 34, Indian national, illegal entry into Pakistan suspected two years ago. He's already flagged in our border records."
Haroon's eyes narrowed. "Indian national…" he muttered under his breath.
The official continued.
"The second is Juginder Singh — age 37, also Indian national. Known background in petty crimes before leaving his hometown. His name has surfaced in smuggling investigations near the border."
"And the third?" Haseeb demanded.
The voice came heavy with finality.
"Yashwant Teja — age 30. Again, Indian national. Multiple fraud and theft cases in his record before he disappeared from India. Intelligence reports suggest his presence in underground criminal networks."
Haseeb scribbled the names quickly.
"So all three are Indians?"
"Yes. Confirmed through biometrics. No doubt."
Haroon signaled to put the call on speaker. The room filled with the official's voice.
"These men are dangerous. If they're robbing banks openly, it's not just theft. There could be bigger motives. Stay alert."
The call ended, leaving silence in the room.
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Scene 5 — The Officers' Reaction
Haseeb exhaled sharply. "Vijay Shankar, Juginder Singh, Yashwant Teja… all Indian, all criminals. And they've crossed into our city."
One young constable whispered nervously, "Sir, could this be connected to something more… political?"
Haroon silenced him with a glance. His voice was steady but carried gravity.
"This is beyond ordinary robbery. Foreign criminals operating here means someone is providing them shelter. Someone is financing them. This isn't just about money — this is about security."
Another officer muttered, "But how did they cross the border?"
Haroon's jaw tightened. "That's what we'll find out. For now, we hunt them down. Every station in the city must know these faces. No place should be safe for them."
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Scene 6 — Orders from Haroon
Haroon straightened, addressing the room like a commander before battle.
"Listen carefully. We have three identified robbers, all foreign nationals. Our first task: circulate their images to every checkpoint, bus stand, and railway station. If they try to escape, we'll catch them."
He pointed at Haseeb.
"You coordinate with Special Branch and intelligence units. These men will have hideouts — track their contacts, their movements. Check hotels, guesthouses, and old criminal networks."
To another officer:
"Alert media discreetly. A general warning without details. Panic is not our goal, but awareness is."
The team nodded, scribbling down notes. The air in the room was now charged with purpose.
Haroon looked back at the frozen CCTV frame on the screen.
"You killed an innocent man yesterday. That blood is on your hands. And I promise, you'll pay for it."
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Scene 7 — Later That Evening
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky orange and red. Haroon sat in his office, staring at the three printed photos spread across his desk.
The faces of Vijay, Juginder, and Yashwant seemed to stare back at him, mocking. He clenched his fist.
Haseeb entered quietly with two cups of tea.
"Sir, you've been sitting here since morning. You should rest."
Haroon shook his head. "Rest? While these men walk free in my city? No, Haseeb. They've brought their crimes across the border, but they've chosen the wrong city. Lahore is mine. We'll smoke them out."
Haseeb placed the cup gently on the table. "InshaAllah, sir. We'll catch them soon. We already have intelligence following their trail."
Haroon finally allowed himself a sip of tea, his eyes still on the photos.
"Mark my words, Haseeb. This case is not about money. It's about sending a message. And we'll send it."
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Scene 8 — A Glimpse into the Shadows
Meanwhile, far away in an abandoned warehouse on the city's outskirts, three men sat in the dim glow of a lantern.
Vijay Shankar paced angrily. "Fools! That man exposing our faces has ruined our cover. Now the police will be everywhere."
Juginder Singh spat on the floor. "Let them come. We've faced worse before."
Yashwant Teja, the quietest of the three, leaned against the wall. His voice was cold.
"This city isn't like the border towns. Here, police bite harder. We'll need new plans, new hideouts. Or we'll be caught."
The three exchanged uneasy glances. Outside, dogs barked in the darkness. Inside, silence grew heavy with fear.
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End of Chapter