Two more people gunned down by robbers in city

Two more people were killed by the firing of robbers in Karachi on Tuesday. A man was shot dead near Muhajir Chowk in Sector 11½ of Orangi Town, while another was gunned down in Sector 10 of Surjani Town.

Following the Orangi Town incident, police and rescue workers reached the crime scene and took the casualty to Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. He was identified as 35-year-old Abdullah, son of Bahadur Khan.

Police said that Abdullah was shot twice, adding that he was sitting with his cousin when two men arrived on the scene to rob them. Officials said Abdullah tried to fight off one of the robbers, upon which the suspects fired at him and fled. They added that evidence has been collected from the crime scene, and CCTV camera footage has also been obtained.

Similarly, another man was killed in the early hours. Police said the incident occurred when Ashfaq, son of Nazeer, was on duty at the Khan coach stop in Sector 10 of Surjani Town, where unidentified suspects shot him dead for resisting the attempt to mug him.

Police said the suspects escaped after committing the crime, adding that the deceased was a watchman at the bus stop. Senior police officials also visited the crime scene to inquire about the incident.

Crackdown

After two more people lost their lives on Tuesday, the number of fatalities in street crime incidents has reached 69, while the number of the injured is estimated to be around 200. These figures are based on media reports, since the police usually tend to provide lesser figures.

Despite Ghulam Nabi Memon’s recent appointment as the Sindh police chief, and IGP Memon’s directive to the Special Investigation Unit to handle such cases, there seems to be no visible progress. While the Karachi police finally decided on Tuesday to launch a crackdown on street criminals, the effectiveness of this decision will depend on how it is implemented.

The strategy for the implementation of the crackdown — how it will be carried out and what specific measures will be taken — is crucial for the success of such an operation.

The Karachi police spokesperson said city police chief Imran Yaqoob Minhas has ordered strict action against those involved in the robbery incidents that led to the death of Ashfaq Nazeer in Surjani Town and that of Abdullah Bahadur Khan in Orangi Town. Addl IGP Minhas ordered the culprits’ immediate arrest.

The spokesperson said that it is imperative to crack down on street crime and street criminals, so a decision has been made to launch a crackdown on the beasts who commit heinous acts of killing people during robberies.

It’s alarming to note that 69 people have lost their lives and around 200 have been injured due to street crime in Karachi this year. There have been approximately 22,000 reported cases of street crime.

Despite these staggering figures, it’s concerning that during the recent meeting of the apex committee, the decrease in crime rates of this year compared to those of last year was highlighted, rather than addressing the pressing issue of rising street crime incidents.