LAHORE: In yet another incident of public lynching within a week, the enraged locals on Saturday killed three suspected robbers in retaliation for murder of a citizen and injuring other over resistance on Mattital Road in Multan.

Three robbers Allah Ditta, Muhammad Hanif and Kashif stopped Hassan Raza at Nangana Chowk and snatched an unregistered CD-70 motorcycle in broad daylight.

The locals informed all the nearby residents who gathered on Mattital Road and started chasing the robbers.

The locals encircled the robbers after a brief chase and the suspects opened fire. Resultantly, two citizens Nawaz Mahay (18) and Junaid Uthangal suffered bullet wounds.

In second incident of public wrath over a week, locals avenge murder of trader

The robbers were overpowered and beaten to death with kicks, fists and clubs.

The injured citizens were taken to Nishtar Hospital where Nawaz succumbed to his injuries while the other was said to be stable.

Meanwhile, a heavy police contingent reached the spot and shifted the bodies of the robbers to morgue.

On Monday, the enraged traders of Gardaizi Market in Gulgasht Colony (Multan) also allegedly lynched three suspected robbers and injuring fourth for killing a trader over resistance.

The incidence of robbery is on the rise in Multan district as on Friday night several citizens lost their cash, jewellery and valuables in dozens of incidents.

In an incident, two robbers snatched cash and mobile phone from Mukhtar Hussain at Saho Chowk, two mobile phones from Jalal Khan in Jahangirabad, cash worth Rs14,000 from Samar Atta at Vehari Road, Rs7,000 and mobiles from Ghulam Muhammad in Shah Rukn-o-Alam Colony, Rs10,000 and mobile phone from Sajid Ali in New Multan, Rs 10,000 from Tahir in Muslim Town, Rs3,000 and phone from Abdul Majeed near Nadirabad Phatak, motorcycle, mobile and cash worth Rs11,000 from Muhammad Wazir in Dream Garden, mobile and a cash Rs11,000 from Ali Raza in Makhdoom Rasheed, mobile and Rs1,900 from Hamza in Mumtazabad, motorcycle from Nasir in Adda Larr area, Rs20,000, gold and mobile from Shahid in Mong Wadh area and a motorcycle from Zafar in Sajawalpur.

The citizens also launched a protest against what they said the police inability to control the increasing robbery incidents in the city during Ramazan.

They said the policemen were not properly fighting crime but were busy in security duties of the government officials and the broad daylight robberies were on the rise in the city.

They demanded that the government take measures and ensure security of citizens.

Multan Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Muhammad Imran, who is also working as City Police Officer (CPO) told Dawn that a team conducted an investigation into the incident.

He said the suspected robbers had snatched a motorcycle from a citizen and were running away when the locals had started chasing them.

He said the robbers opened fire on the citizens, killing a man and injuring another who lost his eyesight.

He said the police had collected evidence and the robbers were killed in retaliation for the killing of the citizen.

He said the robbers also suffered bullet wounds as they indiscriminately opened fire and had hit each other while adding investigation would further reveal the circumstances of their killing.

Mr Imran said: “The police patrolling in and around the city has been increased and we are taking measures to control the incidents.”

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2023