KARACHI: A young civil engineer was stabbed to death in his Gulistan-i-Jauhar apartment by a lone “robber”, police and a relative of the victim said on Tuesday.

They identified the victim as 29-year-old Rahul Kumar and said that it appeared that the killer was acquainted with him.

Sharea Faisal SHO Faisal Gul Khawaja told Dawn that the suspect entered the flat on Monday night and Rahul made him sit in a room. Moments later, he attacked Rahul in his room with a sharp-edged instrument before fleeing. Rahul died on the spot.

During an initial probe, it transpired that the incident was motivated by some personal issues. However, he added that the police were waiting for the relatives to lodge an FIR to initiate legal proceedings.

Journalist Mahesh Kumar, a close relative of Rahul, told Dawn that the victim’s wife told him that the suspect appeared to be ‘familiar’ to Rahul as he sat with him in a room. She said she heard screams and rushed to the room where the suspect got hold of her and demanded gold and other valuables.

The suspect took away around 18-20 tola jewellery and cash as well, Mr Kumar said, adding that before fleeing, the killer tied her hands and legs and also gagged her. She managed to untie her after an hour and raised alarm, alerting the attention of neighbours, who shifted Rahul to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The victim was associated with a private firm and tied the knot around seven months ago. He originally hailed from Shikarpur, where his coffin was taken for last rites.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024