MUZAFFARGARH: Three young passersby were killed when robbers opened indiscriminate fire after snatching motorcycle from a man in precincts of Kot Addu Sadar police on Monday evening.

Locals, who arrived at the scene after the incident said they tried to contact Kot Adu Sadar police on phone but got no response.

According to them, robbers after snatching motorcycle from a man opened indiscriminate fire when he tried to chase them. As a result, three youngsters -- Tayyib (18), Shahzaib (15) and Ahsan (15), all residents of Kot Addu city, were hit by bullets and died on the spot.

Their bodies were shifted to the local tehsil headquarters hospital (THQ ) for the postmortem examination.

The locals alleged that despite calling at the 15 helpline, a police team responded only when the victims’ bodies had already been shifted to the THQ hospital.

Locals protest against police for ‘delayed response’

However, police claimed they reached the hospital after chasing the robbers, who fled away.

The police said a case was being registered on the complaint of families of the victims.

District Police Officer Ahmed Nawaz Shah directed Kot Addu sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) to arrest the robbers as soon as possible.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali also took notice of the incident and ordered the DPO to reach the crime scene immediately, form teams and conduct raids for immediate arrest of the criminals to ensure justice.

Following the incident, locals staged a protest demonstration and chanted slogans against the Saddar SHO and SDPO, demanding their transfer and registration of a case against them for showing negligence.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, taking notice of the incident, sought a report from the inspector general of police (IGP). Mr Elahi ordered the IGP to ensure early arrest of the robbers who deserved severe punishment under the law, adding justice should be provided to the families of the victims.

He also expressed heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and offered condolence over the deaths.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2022