KARACHI: Police, Rangers and other allied agencies seemed to have failed to curb increasing incidents of street crime as armed robbers shot dead two more persons over resistance in the city on Wednesday.

However, two suspects were taken into custody after enraged people overpowered them and handed them to policemen who reached the scene.

Officials conceded that dozens of people were being deprived of their cell phones, cash and other valuables on a daily basis on the streets of Karachi by criminals who opened fire without any hesitation in case of slightest resistance by their victims.

On Wednesday, Abdul Rauf, 40, was killed when he put up resistance to an armed robbery in the Dhoraji area within the remit of the Bahadurabad police station.

Relatives of 20-year-old victim stage protest against police in Korangi

East-SSP Zubair Nazeer Shaikh said that as Rauf came out of his home, armed robbers emerged there and tried to snatch his cell phone at gunpoint.

He said that as he offered resistance the robbers opened fire on him and he sustained bullet wounds in the chest. He died on way to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

Hearing gunshots, area people rushed to the scene and in the meantime a police patrol also arrived there. The people and police managed to overpower the two suspects, the SSP said.

He said that the two suspects had also snatched two cell phones from as many citizens in the vicinity of the same area. Both victims identified the suspects, he said.

The SSP added that one of the held suspects was arrested earlier but was enlarged on bail.

In the second incident, 20-year-old Huzaifa Shakir, who was wounded by muggers in Korangi on Tuesday evening, died during treatment at the JPMC on Wednesday afternoon.

The Korangi police said that the youth was shot at and wounded by two robbers when he resisted their attempt to snatch his motorbike.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that Huzaifa was shot in the head.

The funeral prayers of Huzaifa were held in Korangi.

His relatives and area people staged a protest against the failure of police and Rangers to curb crimes.

They blocked a main road in Korangi 2 for vehicular traffic and chanted slogans against the police and government.

They demanded that the killers of the young man be arrested immediately. However, they dispersed peacefully after some time.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2023