KARACHI, April 12: Widespread panic gripped the union council areas of Shah Baig Lane on Thursday as the ongoing so-called gang war in Lyari claimed another precious life. This time the victim was footballer Shakoor Baloch.

Residents of the locality have expressed concern over the “deteriorating crime situation,” saying that armed gangs roam in the congested streets and snatch cellular phones, wallets and cash.

Residents argued that they had repeatedly demanded the deployment of rangers in the locality, as they alleged that the police were themselves part of the game.

They also argued that mere changing of police officials did not improve the situation unless some drastic action was taken against the crime mafia.

An irate resident held the police equally responsible for this disturbing situation and alleged that the mafia could not run its operation without police support.

He claimed that after every shootout innocent people were targeted either by the police or the criminals. He regretted that the current situation was developed systematically by “invisible forces” to keep youth away from mainstream Baloch nationalist politics.

Lawlessness has prevailed in Lyari Town for quite some time. The town was once peaceful but is now in the grip of terror due to criminal activity. There has been a marked increase in robberies, snatching of cellular phones and shootings.

The police have always attributed the incidents of lawlessness to the mafia’s activity and absolved themselves from responsibility, another resident argued.