KARACHI: In an alarming increase in street crimes, armed robbers shot dead three persons and wounded five others over resistance to their mugging bids in different parts of the city on Sunday, police said.

They said a shopkeeper, Usman Mushtaq, 25, was standing near the counter of his shop in Kazimabad near Hazrat Ali Chowk when armed pillion riders came and tried to rob him. As he put up resistance, the muggers opened fire on him and fled.

Majid Colony SHO Majid Korai said he suffered bullet wounds in the chest and left hand and died on the spot.

The body was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to fulfill medico-legal formalities.

The officer said the suspects did not take away anything.

In another incident, a passer-by was shot dead by robbers in Zaman Town.

Area SHO Humayun Ahmed Khan said that around four to five muggers snatched cash and other valuables from a milk seller in Sector-48-F, which was a predominantly Bengali community area. When the muggers were fleeing on motorbikes after the robbery, area people raised alarm.

Muhammad Shafi, 35, who was also passing the area, pelted the robbers with stones. The robbers in panic opened fire, killing Shafi on the spot.

He suffered a bullet wound in the neck. The body was shifted to the JPMC for an autopsy.

In the third incident, a man was shot dead and another wounded by armed robbers when they tried to catch the outlaws in Liaquatabad No. 4 on Sunday evening.

Super Market SHO Haji Sanaullah said armed pillion riders committed a robbery near Erum Bakery in Liaquatabad.

They were fleeing when the area people raised alarm. Some employees of nearby shops tried to catch the robbers, who opened fire on Shakeel Muhammad, 50, and Muzammil, 30.

Both the wounded were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH), where Muzammil died during treatment.

Two wounded over resistance

A man, Zulfiqar Ali, 45, was shot and hurt when he put up resistance against a robbery bid at Sadiq Medical Store in Landhi-89, according to Landhi police. He was shifted to the JPMC.

Two persons were injured by armed robbers over resistance in different parts of the city on Sunday.

In another incident in the Landhi area, an unknown man in his mid-20s was stabbed and injured while resisting a robbery attempt at Piyala Hotel in 36-B Landhi. He was also shifted to the JPMC.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2022