KARACHI: An enraged mob lynched a suspected robber in Orangi Town while police saved his accomplice from being killed, officials said on Saturday.

Orangi Town SHO Jamal Leghari said that a citizen, Arsalan, had arrived at a milk shop on his motorbike late on Friday night when the area was under power loadshedding. However, two robbers were already present there and they held him at gunpoint, snatched his cell phone and motorcycle and rode away.

As they were fleeing, the victim raised alarm and people sitting nearby chased the suspects and caught one of them, the SHO said, adding that he was subjected to a severe beating and died on the spot.

The other suspect abandoned the motorbike and tried to escape by holding a rickshaw driver at gunpoint. But, he was also caught by the mob and some of the enraged people tried to set him on fire. However, a police patrol arrived at the scene and saved him from the wrath of the angry mob, the SHO added.

The police identified the dead as Imran Butt and the held suspect as Rehan Anwar. The snatched motorbike and cell phone and one pistol were recovered from their custody.

The body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Suspect shot dead in Gulshan-i-Zia

Also in Orangi Town, a suspected robber was shot dead on Saturday, police said.

West SSP Dr Hafeezur Rehman Bugti said six robbers were riding three motorcycles when Shaheen Force policemen signalled them to stop for checking in Gulshan-i-Zia.

However, the suspects resorted to firing and in an ensuing exchange of gunfire, one suspect was killed while his five accomplices fled. The killed suspect was identified as Khadim Husain. He had a past criminal record as he was arrested and sent to prison in two cases, including one pertaining to terrorism.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2024