KARACHI: Armed muggers looted over two-dozen people, including females, enjoying their evening at a tea shop in a Defence locality, shot at and wounded a student over resistance and rode away, police and witnesses said on Friday.

They said six robbers riding three motorbikes stormed the tea shop in Nishat Commercial, Phase VI, Defence Housing Authority, on Thursday night, held the people present there at gunpoint, deprived them of their cell phones, cash and other belongings and escaped.

The tea shop owner chased the fleeing robbers and hit one of the motorcyclists with his car. The suspects fell, but managed to escape leaving behind their motorcycle, they added.

Witnesses said the one suspect was injured but he and his companion ran and fled with their other accomplices on two motorcycles.

Video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting DIG-South Sharjeel Kharam to visit the scene of crime, meet the victims and order setting up checkpoints in the commercial areas of DHA.

He told Dawn that six robbers riding three motorbikes arrived at the tea shop at around 9.30pm. There were around 20-25 people including female sitting there when they started looting cell phones, purses and other valuables from them, he said.

The DIG said the suspects resorted to firing, injuring young Asad Mehdi, who was shot in the leg.

He said that the abandoned motorbike of the muggers was impounded and investigators got information about its owner. They also obtained CCTV footage of the incident, he added.

The DIG said he ordered setting up of pickets in commercial areas of the DHA as well as conducting snap-checking at ‘hot spots’ and increasing patrolling to give a sense of security to residents.

He said for the next 15 days of Ramazan, checking would be carried out at eight points of DHA and security would also be beefed up.

Regarding complaint of citizens that the police arrived the scene very late, the DIG said police were deputed for security of Iftar and Taraveeh purposes.

He said around 12 cell phones were snatched while the exact amount of looted cash could not be ascertained.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2022