KARACHI: The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of the police ruled out on Wednesday the possibility of any sabotage behind Tuesday’s cylinder blast at a Defence Housing Authority bakery that caused huge damage and injuries to two passers-by.

SSP-South Sheeraz Nazeer said that the BDS in its report blamed the bakery staff for negligence as they were using old and low quality gas lines without any safety measures.

The blast occurred on early Tuesday morning at the Ideal Bakery located in commercial area of DHA, phase-II.

The BDS report said that the whole bakery was destroyed in the explosion that also damaged adjacent buildings.

No loss of life was reported, but two persons passing through the area sustained minor injuries.

The owners of 18 cars and 17 flats damaged in the blast want to lodge an FIR

The SSP said that legal action would be taken against owners of the bakery over negligence and causing damage to property.

He pointed out that 18 cars and 17 flats were damaged in the blast and the residents wanted to lodge an FIR against the bakery owners as their negligence was “proved” in the report of the BDS.

Robbers kill shopkeeper upon resistance

A 35-year-old shopkeeper was shot dead by robbers upon resistance in Korangi on Wednesday.

Zaman Town SHO Farooq Sanjrani said that Sohail Farooqi was sitting at his towel shop near the Coast Guards Chowrangi when armed robbers emerged there and demanded cash. As he put up resistance, the robbers fired at him and fled, he said.

He sustained critical bullet wounds and was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The victim suffered a bullet wound in the head, said Dr Seemin Jamali of the JPMC.

Teenage girl commits suicide

A 17-year-old girl committed suicide in Azizabad on Wednesday, according to police.

They added that Muskan ended her life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in her home.

Area SHO Haji Sanaullah said she was the daughter of a late policeman and lived in the family quarters adjacent to the Azizabad police station.

She was depressed after the death of her father around eight months ago and therefore she ended her life.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2020