KARACHI: Armed muggers shot dead another young man over resistance in Liaquatabad in the small hours of Monday morning, police said.

Since the start of the current month, there has been an alarming rise in the incidents of street crime in the metropolis and around 10 persons have been killed by armed robbers over resistance.

The Super Market police said Tayab Saleh, 30, was killed near his home in C-1 Area of Liaquatabad late on Sunday night.

Area SP Muhammad Usman said that there was a power outage in the area and the victim was sitting outside his home. Four armed men riding two motorbikes arrived there, snatched his cell phone at gunpoint and left the place. After a while, they returned back and shot him dead apparently in a ‘rash’ act, he said.

City police chief ‘activates’ anti-street crime squad

The SP said they might be under the influence of some drugs.

Super Market SHO Haji Sanaullah said that Tayab along with his two friends was watching the cricket match between India and Pakistan on their mobile phones due to power loadshedding in their area.

Protest against killings in Liaquatabad

This was the second murder by robbers in the same area as young shopkeeper, Muzamil, was killed by robbers over resistance on Sunday evening.

On Monday, area residents and family members of Muzammail staged a protest demonstration against the killing.

Carrying the coffin of Muzamil, they took to streets and blocked the main road for vehicular traffic.

Central SSP Maroof Usman and the Liaquatabad SP visited the deceased’s home and met with his family. They also met with the heirs of the second victim who was killed by muggers in the same area.

‘Anti-street crime squad’

Karachi police chief Javed Odho chaired a meeting at his office and directed the authorities to activate the ‘anti-street crimes motorbike squad’. This decision was taken after a surge in street crimes.

“Some 100 motorbikes from all districts of the city would be part of this squad,” said a police spokesperson.

“SHOs and investigation units would also carry out raids against criminals. Since CCTV footage played an important role in crime detection, all SSPs investigations were directed to get such footage of the crimes,” the city police chief ordered.

“District police heads should monitor performance of SHOs about curbing street crimes and narcotics and strict action should be taken in case of any negligence,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Shahrah-i-Noor Jehan police arrested a suspect, identified as Sohail Masih, who along with his accomplice snatched a cell phone from a citizen in North Nazimabad.

The video of the incident went viral on social media and the suspect was arrested with the help of technology.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2022