KARACHI: In yet another incident of broad daylight crime, robbers shot dead two men and looted Rs12.6 million from their vehicle in the SITE area on Monday.

Police identified the victims as 30-year-old Zakir and 55-year-old Sher Alam and said that they were associated with the poultry business.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza said that the incident took place at 9:35am when armed robbers intercepted their car near Fatima Masjid in Metroville, shot dead the two men and took away Rs12.6m.

He said that the victims were transporting the cash from their office and it appeared that the robbers already knew about their route.

“We cannot rule out the involvement of an organised group in this brazen attack,” the DIG told Dawn.

Police say victims were transporting cash in their car without security

He said that the victims were shot in the head and upper body from both sides of the vehicle and from the front. There was no evidence that the victims put up resistance, he added.

Five spent bullet casings fired from 9mm pistols were recovered from the crime scene, the police said.

He said a joint investigation team had been formed and the analysis of their route and geo-fencing were being undertaken.

“This is not an ordinary street crime… the killers on the basis of their information targeted the employees of the poultry farm to loot the cash,” he said.

The DIG said that the local police station should have been informed or at least private security guards should have been hired before transporting such a huge amount.

“We will interrogate all persons associated with this case,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar took notice of the incident and ordered suspension of the SHO of the SITE-A police station.

Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah sought a report from the inspector general of police about the murder of two citizens by robbers.

He said such incidents were not ‘tolerable’. He directed the IGP to enhance police patrolling in the city.

Later in the day, the CM chaired a meeting where he expressed concern over the increasing street crime in the city and kidnapping for ransom in the riverine area.

He told Karachi police chief Imran Yaqoob Minhas that every day people were being killed for resisting robberies. “This is quite painful and it becomes our responsibility to protect the life, liberty and property of the citizens,” he said.

He emphasised that the police, with the support of Rangers and other law enforcement agencies, must take strict actions to eliminate the criminals.

He said that he had sent IGP Ghulam Nabi to visit the riverine area and ensure the safe recovery of kidnapped persons.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2024